Do me a favor. Don't propose cowards who drew the color line with guys who didn't have the privilege of excusing a major portion of the talent pool. Tyson KO2.
It isn't. But in this case, it is. Dempsey was strong af for 190 lbs. Tyson was strong af for 220 lbs. If we replaced Tyson with a 220 lbs Chris Byrd then you'd have a point. But in this case, it's illogical to think Tyson and Dempsey are in the same realm when it comes to strength or power.
Doubt. I think you're underestimating Dempsey. I agree Tyson has the edge, but saying they're not in the same realm is a huge claim. Both are ranked among the strongest boxers and hardest hitters. What's your reasoning for saying Tyson is so far above Dempsey?
Maybe he fought some real Heavies who actually could fight, had belts and were not Middleweights, Rodeo Riders or Short order cooks ?
I might be. Tyson beat legitimate super HWs like Ruddock, Bonecrusher, Bruno, Tucker whereas Dempsey beat Willard, Fulton, and Morris (a big gap imo). Dempsey hit hard but he didn't have 1 punch power like Tyson. Dempsey punished Willard with ridiculous haymakers but Willard was never out, he kept beating the count. So did Firpo for the like the first 6/7 knockdowns. Look at how disoriented Berbick was after eating a grazing punch from Tyson. Tyson laid out Holmes with a right hand. Tyson laid out Thomas, Spinks, and Tubbs too. Tubbs, Berbick, Thomas, and Holmes were all durable HWs. How many legitimate super HWs did Dempsey KO? Fulton weighed 208, he's hardly a super HW but still counts since it only took Dempsey 23 seconds. Willard looked like a heavy bag imo. Idk about Morris. Dempsey failed to KO Tommy Gibbons. He went 15 rounds against a former middleweight. Sure Gibbons had never been stopped but neither had Spinks until Tyson annihilated him. And Spinks was bigger than Tunney, Brennan, Gibbons, Miske, Levinsky etc. You can't struggle to KO fighters like Gibbons and Brennan and still end up in the same bracket as Tyson. I think Tyson proved his strength and power against better and bigger opponents.
Tyson was a solid 30 lbs. of muscle heavier. And functional, not body builder muscle. Size is not everything. But it means a fair amount when considering that Dempsey would be a small CW today. Actually given rehydration for decades, he would be no more than a LHW. An interviewer years ago could be seen looking at film of Dempsey & saying he looks like a MW. Tyson was very respectful, still seeming in awe of Dempsey. But think of this: no matter how skilled, what guy with Dempsey's build would you even potentially favor to beat any top HW, let alone a proven champion? And no fight would ever be sanctioned, since that hypothetical dude would weigh...Way under 200 lbs. Since Dempsey relied, in large part, on brute force, he just could not be as effective today-unless he competed as a LHW or CW max (the latter putting on some muscle & rehydrating likely). Tyson shows more overall, at least defensive skills, & yes, is at least as fast. This is a case where time moving on is matched with actual outcomes.
Who did Tyson beat? Some okay contenders, blown up lhws and old fighters? Two can play at that game, disrespecting fighters to further your own point
