Dempsey--one man's opinion.

Why are you ignoring guys like Fulton, Firpo, Miske, Gibbons? They were all top contenders when Dempsey fought them. I think your few on him is a bit onesided. :think

 

Yeah, I saw it later on but my post already has been made. And I gree with you.

 

Awarding a former titlist the luxery of still holding " the championship" has to have its limits though. Otherwise, a guy like Michael spinks could have in theory avoided fighting Tyson while hanging around for another 10 years facing tomato cans and hasbeens, while still being called the champ..

 

I agree.

Nah, this just means the number one contender has more credibillity than the champ. That´s all.

 

I believe Tyson was ranked as no1 contender to Lewis until they fought in 2002, Lewis had talked about retiring since 2000 and clearly wanted easy fights such as Kirk J and a Tyson rematch since he was past his best and ageing. Wlad then became the no1 contender after Tyson was knocked out but was knocked out himself in 2003.

If Lewis fought Kirk J and Wlad beat Sanders maybe that would have been next, Lewis did after fight Vitali on short notice

 

I don't believe so. In the annuel Ring Magazine ratings of 2001 and 2002, Wladimir Klitschko is at # 1.

 

I'm not saying he never fought top contenders.

On Firpo though, I'm not so sure how high he should've ranked at that time. His only notable wins are over a 60 year old Willard and Brenann. Willard, when they fought, hadn't accomplished anything for nearly a decade - and i'm not exaggerating here. Brennan, similarly, had been thrashed by all top heavies he fought and in addition to that, was one fight away from retirement when he fought Firpo.

I've never read a primary source calling Wills slow. This is a myth perpetuating by Dempsey fans who all make the claim "Dempsey would've beaten him, he's big, so he's slow and as bad as Willard and will be destroyed". Wrong, the only time Dempsey faced someone of Wills' level, he got outclassed and embarrassed twice.

 

O just wait chris. My Pal My2sense will be in here soon to tell you about how Willard knocked out
"Top Contender" Floyd Johnson in 1923. Floyd Johnson was a goof trooper.

 

Willard is judged on his fight with Dempsey I don't believe he was as bad as he is rated here, he was not a great HW but much better than he looked against Dempsey.

 

Incidentally its the great mans birthday today, Happy 115th to the Manassa Mauler!!!!!

 

Are you using the Boxrec Ring Ranking that are a year out? I've posted the rankings before, I think Wlad overtook Tyson for some reason in 02 just before they fought but before that Tyson was no1 and Wlad wasn't close

 

The problem with Boxrec's archive of ring ratings is that it only shows how certain men were ranked on ANNUAL basis, and not month to month. It's also reflected in the spring of the following year or something like that.