Dempsey 1919 vs Tyson 1989: What would happen?

It would be the craziest 30 seconds I can imagine.

 

The Dempsey of Toledo,aware of Tyson's early power,would circle Tyson,as Dempsey did ,against Willard,awaiting an opening, and when the opportunity came,would tear into Tyson,with the savage infighting,which made the early prime Dempsey, thegreatest and roughest infighter ever...Tyson needed more punching room than Dempsey, whose fast twitching punching power, from almost a clinch position,I have never seen duplicated....Dempsey in prime to resourceful for Tyson...Result Dempsey ko in three rounds....

 

Cute game. I doesn't see Dempsey being able to take too may of Tyson's punches. Dempsey wasn't even a real Heavyweight. He was 187 lbs I believe. Give or take some pounds. Mike was all of 215 lbs. I do think Dempsey might move around for a period but it's just a matter of time before Mike closes in on him. Mike was also a good bob and weaver. A few combination punches from Mike and it's a done deal. Dempsey couldn't take both hands of power that Mike had. I don't see this fight lasting more than 3 rounds.

 

Dude Guy Man,, Sorry you don't respect my opinion, because "I'm an old guy mythologizing".I might be old chronologically,but here are some of the great fighters I have seen ringside....Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong,Ike Williams,Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery,Kid Gavilan,Fritzie Zivic,Jake Lamotta,Jimmy Bivins, Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler,Marcel Cerdan,Georgie Abrams,Randy Turpin,Ali, Frazier,MSG, 1971,and many many more top boxers....Who have you seen ringside to compare with what I have seen and digested ,to ridicule my opinions? We are all entitled to our unbiased boxing opinions, without demeaning others, EVEN oldtimers who have SEEN it All....As far as Dempsey fearing to fight black fighters,as you claim,85 years later,Dempsey did fight black fighters when young...Dempsey's main sparring partners were George Godfrey, Big Bill Tate,etc,black contenders of the time ,each weighing about 220 lbs...Dempsey's early life as a hobo and knockabout,struggling for meals in the tough west, made it highly unlikely Dempsey feared any man in the ring...Dempsey fought guys who drew the most money, and did what his promotor,advised him to, as the great Joe Louis did15 years later...As we know Louis did not fight any of the top black contenders,except for Lt Heavy John Henry Louis...Was Louis Afraid? No,Louis fought thebboxers who his mentors,picked him to fight...As the Manassa Mauler did in his time...The LATEST does not mean the GREATEST.....

 

tysons too big and strong and fast and hits too hard etc......not a good style matchup for dempsey

 

with no disrespect, you can match tyson up against louis, foreman, liston ali and a few others in history and favor one or the other and thats perfectly ok with me and we could have a great debate about it. but i just dont think dempsey in any way could beat tyson.

 

I think people go to extremes! While both Tyson and dempsey are capable of scoring early KO's in the ring, both have shown a survivability instinct when in trouble and strong enough chins to weather some storms. I guess either guy scoring a KO within 1-3 rds is a plausible outcome, but I don't find it the likely scenerio. I will lean towards the Old Timer in this one and pick dempsey to take him out in 9 or 10, but would not be surprised to see both guys taste the canvas and go to the cards and would say the cards would be close...again if having to pick i would towards dempsey on the cards, and more so if this was 15. I don't think it goes the distance, but don't see a quick finnish as i think both guys are tougher than credited here!

 

i am not questioning dempseys toughness if thats what you mean, i just dont think he has the ability to beat tyson

 

that's cool. Part of the fun of the forum is diverse opinions anyway. And in hypothetical H2H we will get alot of them. I can see arguments for both guys winning this one, but lean towards dempsey in the later rounds. I used to be a Tyson basher, but he has grown on me over the least couple of years. I think it would be an exciting fight most likely ending in the 8-10 rd range, with dempsey prevailing...but Tyson winning this would not shock me! however without a time machine we will never no for sure!

 

yea i almost have my time machine complete ill let all you guys know when its done

 

Of course Tyson was a destructive puncher, and would be a threat against any heavyweight in history, but let me make this point,that I think modern fans are not aware of...Number one, no one alive today ever saw Jack Dempsey, before Willard ,when Dempsey kod 25 men in the first round, including several giants as Fulton, Carl Morris, Willard,who was never dropped before,all weighing 220 lbs and over...Todays fans only see a past peak Dempsey,after a THREE YEAR layoff,rusty as hell ,and slower, boxing a great,fast moving Gene Tunney....This is not the Jack Dempsey of old...Just a shell...Point number two...Jack Dempsey is today described as at about 190 lbs, he Dempsey was too small for todays behomiths...Not true...Dempsey weight was deceptive..He had slender legs of a dancer ,a 33"inch waist.a large chest,under very large and powerful,deltoids and shoulders....He would in the trenches , be as strong as todays 220 lbs,heavyweights, and twice as agile...If Dempsey would be licked by todays bloated heavyweights, it wouldn't be for lack of boxing strength, for sure.....

 

Dempsey was not afraid of anyone because of color. I think Tex Richard went where he would have made the best money.

I think Prime for Prime Dempsey would be too much for Jack Johnson and the contender they say he avoided Harry Wills, I think Wills was made to order for Dempsey still Wills deserved a title shot but it was not a money fight and not Dempseys choice not to fight him.

Funny how the same guys who forgive Larry Holmes for missing so many contenders in his era are so harsh on Jack Dempsey for a fight that was not his to make.

 

I agree very few heavyweights were as fit and cut as Dempsey...Joe Louis was also very small waist and powerfully built without being bloated.

 

I think its unfair these threads matching boxers who fought over fifty years apart, Tyson wins by KO but its because of the way the fight game has changed, I dont think he would deal with Tyson's constant pressure, his instinct is to stand and fight and if he got caught he would be mincemeat. For his time though Dempsey was the better heavyweight which is why I rank him a bit higher.