all this b...**** about jeffries and dempsey being racist

"Dress that up how you want"

Who's dressing it up? I posted that Jeffries revealed himself as a crudely overt racist. Isn't that direct enough.

That said, it is also a fact that Jeff fought Jackson and Armstrong on the way up before he became champion.

Dempsey did not fight Langford or Wills on his way up.

Just the facts.

 

This is from the New York Times, July 6, 1919, page 20

JACK DEMPSEY, NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, ANNOUNCES HE WILL DRAW THE COLOR LINE.

DEMPSEY WILL MEET ONLY WHITE BOXERS

Toledo, Ohio, July 5--In the first statement he has made since becoming champion, Jack Dempsey announced today that he would draw the color line. He will pay no attention to negro challengers, but will defend his title against any white heavyweight.

(Later)

His statement that he has drawn the color line means that Jack will pay no attention to any challenge which might come from Harry Wills.

**I don't see that this is different from Jeff's stance in 1904.

 

Wills was the standout challenger for Dempsey's crown but no promoter would touch it.
Dempsey ,after he lost the title, faced Sharkey in an eliminator, he kod him. Sharkey 9 months previously, had beaten the two foremost black contenders in Wills, and Godfrey.

Wills undeniably merited a title shot, but he marked time when one was not forth coming, it was commented on that he was," fed a diet of well chewed meat", during this time.

Wills was offered a final eliminator against Tunney, the winner to face Dempsey, he declined it.

You can say he should not have had to face Tunney to get a shot, then again ,you could say that as a recent former champion Dempsey should not have had to face, and beat the dangerous Sharkey before challenging Tunney for his old title.

Wills was also offered fights with Godfrey on several occasions, he declined to accept them.
Hardly forcing the issue.

Have a look at Wills record from 1922-26.
A loss and a draw with Bill Tate, Dempsey's sparring partner.

Two wins over Jeff Clark who had won just 2 of his last 11 fights.

A "win" over Floyd johnson who had his purse stopped for his effort, [ or lack of it]
A win over King Tut who was described as visibly trembling when he entered the ring.

Like the Johnson fight, this one was investigated.

Victims Clem Jackson, and Buddy Jackson were variously 3-8-2 ,and 1-1-0.

Light heavy Kid Norfolk was conceding 7 inches in height, and 36lbs in weight.

Wills best win from 1922-26 was over a 39 years old Langford.
A win over Homer Smith hardly set the boxing world alight , 4 months after losing to Wills Smtih losta dec toa 46 years old Jack Johnson.
Wills other signature win ,over Firpo , had been topped by Dempsey half -killing the "Wild Bull".
Wills performance in this fight was said to be a dissapointment to say the least.

Here is a ringside link to that fight.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAAIBAJ&pg=3181,2790358&dq=harry+wills&hl=en

My somewhat laboured point is that Wills, though he definitely deserved a title shot, once he achieved prominence, rather sat on his laurels.