Could Dempsey Be Competitive with Modern Super Heavies?

I think he most certainly can be. Would be interesting to see how the modern ruleset impacts him, but I imagine probably not by that much.

Most of the HW's today are terrible, so I wouldn't be surprised if he tears them a new one.

 

And what did this anonymous opponent of Dempsey have that modern super heavyweights don't have?

Source 1:
X fairly outboxed Dempsey, particularly in the last two rounds; had that individual bewildered and unable to open up his attack.
X covered up remarkably clever fashion; so much so that the Dempsey attack was largely lacking in its effectiveness. That, as a matter of fact, as much as the customary wild swinging of X, who, by the way, landed more than is his habit, was what impressed the writer with the showing of X.

Source 2:
and at the conclusion had the conqueror of Fred Fulton hanging on and satisfied to let matters stand as they were.

 

I am deeply intrigued!

 

More of source 1:
Dempsey showed to best advantage in the second. It was all his round. He half pushes, half knocked X down with left and right. He landed after that in the same session and decorated X with a bad left eye. But X took all the man who knocked out Fulton in twenty-seven seconds could hand him, and grinned.

What is more, X was a revived lad in the third. He could take to cover when it was necessary and he didn't open up when Dempsey wanted him to do so. But he could swing and he did land, both to head and body, with left as well as right.

The fourth saw X with an even more decided lead. Encouraged by his showing, he went at Dempsey hammer and tongs. Dempsey couldn't seem to hold him off and X had a decided advantage.


More of source 2:
Dempsey, in a way, was a big disappointment. Only in the second round did he show to advantage. Then, at the start of the round, he cut loose with one of his deadly right-hand punches. It landed flush on the chin of the robust X. X was hurt and accordingly he proceeded to cover up. Dempsey stepped around fast and pounded in right and lefts. For the space of about two minutes Jack did look like the "coming champion." In backing away, X lost his balance and sat down in his own corner when Dempsey landed a right. He was right up, however, and was protecting himself well. At the finish of the round, X was fighting back, but he was pounded up a bit, although Dempsey was unable to draw blood.

The other three rounds belonged to X by unquestionable margin. Right at the clang of the gong X bounded from his corner as if Dempsey was just a regular four-rounder again. X put his bass drum punch into play right away and landed repeatedly on Dempsey's stomach. Dempsey was cool and collected, but he was not getting in any effective punching. It looked as if he was laying back, and X did what leading and landing there was.

After X got through the battering in the second round he was back at his man again in the third. The bass drum punch was X's favorite instrument of getting to Dempsey's stomach and Jack did not seem to effect any formidable defense against it. The men would be locked in a clinch, when X would pull clear both arms and hammer away. He found the mark with some heft blows and Dempsey plainly registered that he was hurt. Dempsey did endeavor to get his trusty right into execution, but he could not land, as X covered his jaw well with both arms.

The fourth was practically a repetition of the third, with X on the offensive. "Fight 'im, Jack, you're the champion," was the yell hurled at him from his corner, but he appeared a wee bit tired and he was experiencing difficulty in fathoming the slam-bang style of milling which is distinctly and typical of X. X would swing and once when he landed a left to the head Dempsey was rocked. Dempsey was even detected in the act of holding with X pulling loose his hands and bounding away.

 

I'm sorry, but to give an accurate answer, I need to know what definition of the word "competitive" you are using, McVey.

Is it the B2 Cambridge University meaning?:

Wanting very much to or be more successful than other people
You're very competitive - it's meant to be a friendly match!
I could never play team sports - I lack the competitive spirit (= a strong wishto beat others).

Or the Merrium Webster dictionary 2. meaning?:
inclined, desiring, or suited to compete



Or the Oxford dictionary 2. meaning?:

good as or better than others of a comparable nature.

‘a car industry competitive with any in the world’

 

Dempsey’s accomplishments are amazing but boxing skill wise I do believe he’s primitive to today’s stabdards. But he obviously has power and speed. Two dangerous combinations in boxing. With modern training with today’s rules I see him being competitive. But this seems to be the dopey argument every time on this site!!! It’s stupid to believe that fighters would weigh so much and have the same skill sets in other eras. Absurd actually. Dempsey probably weighs 220 today like Marciano probably weighs 220 today if they fought HW hell ali would weigh 230-240 regularly today to compete. Like Foreman going from 215 to later on like what 250? Fighters of the past never used weight lifting and always trained to weigh less. If they didn’t they’d fight other weight classes. And the anti white fighter crap on this site is off putting. Grow up and get with this century please.

 

What we have here! Another "Put 190-CW-fishys into the behemoth shark pool"-thread!

The 190-CW might fit with the other Cruisers today, I doubt he got the frame to go up to 220+ .....

 

Well you certainly are a hateful sort of guy. I'd be obliged if you put me on ignore. Regards.

 

Thanks but at least I have a fully functioning brain. Lol if you want to think 150 pound fighters from 80 years ago can beat modern sized heavyweights then you don't have a functining brain. Ignore.....Regards.

 

He has the intelligence of pond scum and the personality of a fence post. Quite an asset to the human race and this forum.

 

And something is coming so get out your popcorn, sit back and enjoy !!

 

True. No need to bother with him any further. Shame that he fills up useful space on the internet.

 

1. Harry B. Smith in 1918-09-14 San Francisco Chronicle (page 10)
2. Fred A. Purner in 1918-09-14 San Francisco Examiner (page 9)

 

Slight hint:

Physics is not some myth your High School teacher made up to bore you.
Having watched tape of Gene Tunney, Dempsey would have all the trouble in the world with Usyk.