Dempsey Didn't Jab Enough?

A little off topic, but how did he think he would go against Harry Wills?

 

Well after watching my Harry Wills career set and familiarising myself with his skills and abilities I would say.....

 

But your not exactly Jack Dempsey, are you?

 

My dad asked Jack about Harry Wills. Jack said Harry would have been a great challenger and he had personally wanted to defend against him. Jack also said he was sure he would have won.

 

I think i would agree with Jack on that one.

 

What did he have to say about the Flynn loss? or his sparring sessions with Harry Greb?

 

Sorry. I never asked him about Flynn or Greb. To my knowledge, my dad never asked him about them either.

 

I would, too.

 

Based on your extensive viewing of Wills Im sure

 

Dempsey might not have thrown enough jabs but he made them count when he threw them, (just as Tyson did).

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdCcMZZoVMY[/ame]

Check out the jab at 3:48

 

It's funny to watch those old school, transitional-small-gloved boxing fights.

Keep Hands at waist. Throw a punch. Pull them back to guard your waist.

 

Yes. They had great technique.

 

Indeed, very strict and consistent. You'd be hard pressed to see them accidentally use a high guard and punch from there. Compare that to how often post-40's boxers forgot a high guard!

 

Well each boxer is different. Some prefer to have their hands low, others high. Many boxers vary where they hold their hands, depending on opponent or tactics. And where they hold their hands isn't really the important factor - you can live under a peek-a-boo your whole career and get pummelled in the head non-stop if you're not a good boxer. If you're good you can do whatever works for you.

 

Gibbons held his hands low even compared to the average boxer of his era but he could get away with it in his prime. It's like Tony Canzoneri and Barney Ross, one got by with his natural instincts (Canzoneri) and the other with flawless technique (Ross).

Dempsey shows a good jab in sparring sessions and based on the books he wrote knew as much as anyone about boxing but he often didn't utilize his techniques to the full extent in actual fights. Perhaps he favoured sheer aggression over technique, and no one can say it didn't work for him.