Aside from Wills and Langford, who are the best men of his day Dempsey never fought?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Sting like a bean, Jun 30, 2018.


Page 1 of 10
  1. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    2,047
    1,594
    Apr 9, 2017
    I hesitate somewhat to create this thread, because it's inspired by snippets of earlier conversations that the main participants may consider exhaustive (and exhausting) and have little desire to revisit, but excellent points (as far as I could tell) were made on both sides and I remain unresolved.
    So, was Dempsey's resume still thin even if, for the sake of argument, we ignore the color line?


    If it's not too tedious, I'd kind of like to see this taken a bit further. If it is too tedious, I entirely understand.
     
    Sting like a bean, Jun 30, 2018
    Sting like a bean, Jun 30, 2018
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,575
    27,221
    Feb 15, 2006
    Langford is not even in the argument.

    Dempsey was right not to fight him.

    The rankings are very simple:

    1. Wills
    2. Greb

    Next would be somebody like Charley Weinert.
     
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    #2
    mcvey and BitPlayerVesti like this.
  3. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,584
    11,099
    Oct 28, 2017
    I've never seriously looked into them, but I've always got the impression the comments about wanting someone easier were to flatter Langford, given how past it he was by then.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Jun 30, 2018
    BitPlayerVesti, Jun 30, 2018
    #3
    mcvey and janitor like this.
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,575
    27,221
    Feb 15, 2006
    So it is in every era.

    A dangerous contender, whose credentials don't stack up on paper, wont get very far!
     
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    #4
  5. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    How is a 1917 Langford not in the argument? It would have been one of Dempsey’s biggest wins. Dempsey was afraid and admitted so.
     
    SuzieQ49, Jun 30, 2018
    SuzieQ49, Jun 30, 2018
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,575
    27,221
    Feb 15, 2006
    Langford was shot, slipping down the rankings, suffering from brain damage, and Wills was arguably carrying him for financial purposes.

    I submit that Dempsey went from being afraid of him, to feeling sorry for him, in a fairly short time span!
     
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    janitor, Jun 30, 2018
    #6
    louis54 likes this.
  7. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,584
    11,099
    Oct 28, 2017
    He got KOed by Fred Fulton in 1917.

    Dempsey was champion yet so it doesn't really matter either.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Jun 30, 2018
    BitPlayerVesti, Jun 30, 2018
    #7
  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,724
    29,075
    Jun 2, 2006
    Langford was not a credible opponent for Dempsey once he had won the title.imo
    Greb has been covered so I'll cast the net further.
    Jack Renault had some good results. George Godfrey.
    These are the two that seem to me the outstanding pair.
     
    mcvey, Jul 1, 2018
    mcvey, Jul 1, 2018
    #8
  9. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    He still had enough in the tank in 1917 to knock out Kid Norfolk and beat Joe Jeanette. He was still very dangerous despite being over the hill. Would have been a big win for Dempsey
     
    SuzieQ49, Jul 2, 2018
    SuzieQ49, Jul 2, 2018
    #9
  10. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    1. Wills
    2. Greb
    3. Godfrey
    4. 1917 Sam Langford
    5. Renault
     
    SuzieQ49, Jul 2, 2018
    SuzieQ49, Jul 2, 2018
    #10
  11. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

    10,974
    5,432
    Feb 10, 2013
    Kid Norfolk woulda been a good one. Probably wouldnt win but it would have been interesting. Godfrey.
     
    klompton2, Jul 2, 2018
    klompton2, Jul 2, 2018
    #11
    SuzieQ49 likes this.
  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,724
    29,075
    Jun 2, 2006
    I assumed we were talking about the Champion Dempsey which was from July 1919.
     
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    #12
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,724
    29,075
    Jun 2, 2006
    The fight with Fulton damaged the optic nerve and left him permanently blind in one eye and with impaired vision in the other Woodman, his manager tried to persuade him to retire.
     
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    #13
  14. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,724
    29,075
    Jun 2, 2006
    I don't pretend to know too much about Norfolk but the way Wills bounced him around in2 rds in1922 leads me to think Dempsey wouldn't have had too much trouble with him.
     
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    mcvey, Jul 2, 2018
    #14
  15. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

    29,975
    36,762
    Jul 24, 2004
    What about his sparring partner, Big Bill Tate?
     
    FrankinDallas, Jul 2, 2018
    FrankinDallas, Jul 2, 2018
    #15
Page 1 of 10