Yeah in my opinion the Firpo fight was actually a bit of a knock on JD's legacy. Mainly because Firpo is in no way skilled and he'd get his ears boxed off by any middling modern heavyweight. All I can think the case is (and this purely conjecture on my part) that Dempsey wanted to meet the bull head-on and prove that the strongest, roughest, toughest fighter was in fact himself. He succeeded in that but at what cost? It very nearly backfired on him in spectacular fashion, and above that he now has a question mark over his head regarding his strategic choices for fights. If Dempsey had adopted a more measured approach I believe that he could (would?) have handled Firpo with far greater ease than what had happened. But in hypothetical h2h matches this can cost him. Would he adopt the same "wild man" approach to fighting a Foreman? Tyson? That would not end well.
No I totally agree. If he went like a bull at Tyson, or Louis, or Rocky or anyone for that matter can we really see him surviving? I say no. But the man who cautiously boxed at range vs Willard and attacked with ferocity when an opening appeared, he has a chance against anyone. We have no way of knowing which Jack is more representative. He blew Fulton out in a round, was schooled against Sharkey and Tunnel when past his best and fought a strategy against Carp and Gibbons that he couldn't possibly replicate against HW opposition. What if Willard fight was the abberation? We just don't know. It comes down to benefit of doubt and how much you're willing to give.
To bring a couple of points together: Most champions lose hunger once the title is in their hands, and their form suffers as a result. I think that this is pretty much what we see with Dempsey, and he said as much himself. He later admitted that he had underestimated Luis Firpo, and I find this to be plausible. Perhaps he saw Fulton and Willard as being fighters to be reckoned with, but regarded Firpo quite lightly, and consequently took greater risks.
That's all fine and good but his March to the title was paved with retreads and hasbeens and neverwas. So, wherein do we find the greatness?
Learn (or relearn) to construct a sentence and may I will know what f*ck you are trying to say. Sure, a bunch of old white hayseeds thought Color Bar Dempsey was a marvel. But the facts remain that he ducked his best two opponents, that HE DREW THE COLOR LINE, and that he sat his ass on the throne for three years. A pretty lousy champion in my book Refute what was fact.... or invent alternative versions of Dempsey that fulfill your narrative. Whatever gets you through the night.
Next thing you know, they're going to point out Tyson knockouts like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIMh5d2_BHQ and say "Look how many punches he ate....where do we find the greatness?!"