Jack Dempsey versus Louis' top 4 opponents. I'm making these the following, so please confine yourself to discussion on them alone. Walcott Marciano Charles Conn Does Jack get a clean sweep,or does he drop the ball at some point?
Funny how they're both killers but Louis struggled badly with Conn and on the other hand Dempsey would kill him, early...on the other hand, the idea of Louis going life and death with Firpo is laughable. So yeah some interesting thoughts this question tosses up.
When I made the two threads I was struck by the superior quality of Louis' opponents.Though I think Jack gets Louis out of there early,he has his work cut out here imo.
I feel all four would beat Demsey, as he crouched he brought his head nearer to his opponent so he was easier to hit with the jab than Louis, D`Amato Tyson`s former mentor pointed this out to Ali on a rare tape saying Marciano would have been a more difficult opponent than Dempsey because he leaned down off the center line to the right making opponents over comitt to the jab so he could land his counter right, Louis would have done better v Dempsey at the age he fought Rocky because of how many jabs he would land, so I feel Rock was a far more difficult fighter to beat than Jack and I`d pick him to beat Dempsey, Walcott would outjab Jack and outfox him the say way Tunney did. Cgarles would also land a ton of jabs and beat Jack, I don`t know if Conn would win because of his size and Dempsey`s hand speed and power but he would do even better than he did v Louis by way of landing more shots until Jack caught up with him maybe.
Louis didn`t like swarmers but had a better jab than Jack and Dempsey was open to the jab, his head was held in the wrong position as he came in.
2-2 Dempsey stops Rocky Dempsey decapitates Conn. Walcott stops Dempsey late. Charles frustrates Dempsey builds a lead and limps to the finish line.
Conn, I think Dempsey could get in close and punish him, I think his feet were fast enough. I could actually imagine Dempsey getting a decision against Conn, similar to the Gibbons fight, as I don't think Dempsey is as good a finisher as Louis. Marciano. Best for best I'd pick Rocky to grind Dempsey down in a classic war, but the one who fought Louis was still a bit pre-prime, I think I'd give a prime Dempsey the edge. Walcott, I could see this one going either way. I think Walcott's tendancy to drop the pace a bit too much would make Dempsey the favorite. Charles, close one, I'd pick Charles to outbox him as the most likely.
Walcott - definitely challenging for Dempsey, great mover and decent size in comparison to Dempsey. However, over the course of a bout Walcott could definitely be tagged despite his amazing movement (as shown by Marciano and Louis in the second fight). I feel dempsey would win in similar circumstances to Marciano, KO after being out boxed but still in the fight. Marciano - would be a monster war. Honestly can't pick a definite winner at the moment. Conn - his movement may bother dempsey early but he would definitely be grounded down and KOed, quicker than Louis IMO. Charles - hardest for Dempsey. This would go the distance, and could be a gruelling fight down the stretch. I think Charles could win a decision with his intelligent skills, movement and sheer toughness, although dempsey would be very competitive.
KO's Conn mid rounds KO's Walcott late rounds Stops Charles mid-late rounds Is stopped by Marciano, late rounds (but damn, what a slugfest that would be.)
I could have mentioned Max Baer who ko'd Schmeling . I'd pick Walcott ,Charles and Marciano to beat Schmeling and Conn very well might too,but I'm not going to be sidetracked now. If you want to play, thems the rules.
Walcott and Charles probably win decisions. Marciano probably stops Dempsey mid-late. Conn gets stopped mid-rounds.
Marciano stops Dempsey in 10-11 Dempsey KO Conn 5 Dempsey KO Charles 13 while behind on the cards Walcott vs Dempsey....not sure...I am leaning towards Jersey Joe, but will call it a draw Dempsey 2-1-1
I think Dempsey would be in danger of losing each of these but the odds and his power says he will win one of them, most likely Walcott.
I would make Dempsey a favorite over all of them in his prime, but I feel that if he fought all four he would loose to one of them. Taking them on over the same timescale as Louis, he would be lucky to win the series.