Best five wins thread. Lineal / Ring Magazine heavyweight champions.

I know that this thread is for lineal heavyweight champions only, but Sam Langford and Harry Wills might make interesting case studies.

 

Miske got sick in 1918 but I have a feeling that it didn't affect his fighting until a couple of years later

 

Jack Dempsey
1. Sharkey
2. Fulton
3. Gibbons
4. Miske
5. Firpo

The Willard win is impressive given how he utterly destroyed the defending champ, but Willard hadn't officially fought for three years. I think Firpo was a bigger challenge for Dempsey coming into their fight.

 

Some have cast doubt on this version of events.

Either way, it is clearly a win.

 

The Willard lists were all very similar, but we are seeing some real differences of opinion in the Dempsey lists.

 

1. Fulton
2. Firpo
3. Sharkey
4. Gibbons
5. Miske

Fulton Dempsey takes apart the much larger opponent that is the favorite, that was supposed to meet Willard.
Firpo Dempsey takes apart the much larger opponent on a hot streak
Sharkey Dempsey defeats his best opponent - in a competitive bout with a highly controversial ending
Gibbons Dempsey defeats a classic consistent boxer over 15
Miske - Dempsey stops rugged contender with solid resume.

left off the Willard bout because he was inactive. Jack was clearly a giant killer. Lacking Wills (imo Jack would of won) I think Dempsey could still be top 5 today with that win

 

Sharkey
gibbons
fulton
willard
miske

 

The Fulton win was electric at the time. Sequential losses removed the sheen.

The Sharkey win, while ugly, was his fault for complaining. Dempsey took some great shots in that first round. Did well to recover.

1) Sharkey - Beat him right in the middle of his best run
2) Fulton - Amazingly quick win over the #1 contender
3) Willard - A butchering of the 5-4 on champion
4) Miske II - Outpointing an underrated contender
5) Gibbons - Dominant win over a classy fighter

 

1. Jack Sharkey - no need to explain that, Sharkey was a great fighter in his prime and Dempsey stopped him. Sure, Sharkey outboxed him throughout the fight and stoppage is questionable, but Dempsey started to take over before the stoppage.
2. Fred Fulton - huge win over more experience top rated conteder. Fulton was very good fighter who had chin problems; but you need more than just a punch to beat him.
3. Billy Miske - another very solid contender.
4. Jess Willard - he could be higher but he was old, inactive and out of shape.
5. Luis Firpo - he was crude as hell, but his power was real and Dempsey demolished him.

Brennan and Gibbons are also decent options.

 

Many happy returns.

 

One point of contention is whee to rank the Willard fight.

My position is that despite the layoff, Willard was the champion, and he would go on to beat another contender.

For these reasons we have to treat it as a very significant win.