Dempsey's take on the non-fight with Wills

"Both could have tried harder,"

Wills?

He chased Dempsey for years, fought Firpo in an elimination, etc. I don't see blaming him at all. I think he would have fought Dempsey anyplace, anytime. His manager said as much over and over again.

 

Uzcudun-Wills is not much to go on, but Harry makes only one attempt at a jab in limited footage, and meets the barrel chested Paulino on the inside, probably not the wisest thing to attempt on somebody with Dempsey's nickname. We do not see Wills make any effort to apply his height and reach advantages against an opponent who could not extend his left properly.

Reports have Jack's brain trust not at all comfortable with the idea of taking on Tommy Gibbons off a two year layoff (and training down from a weight of 234 in the process), and I don't think Dempsey gets nearly enough credit for defending against a challenger Tunney wanted nothing to do with at the time. But concerns about the likelihood of a defeat against Wills is something I haven't read expressed by those insiders concerned about the Mauler's defense in Shelby.

Yes, he should have defended against Wills. Nobody disputes that. Could Harry have ever defeated Jack for the title? Langford didn't think so, and I don't recall any serious arguments that the older Wills (already 30 when Dempsey was crowned) would have prevailed.

Dempsey-Greb on July 4th, 1919 may be the ultimate fantasy match of all time that could have occurred in reality but didn't. The Windmill trashed Brennan in Tulsa over the championship distance the very day Jack hammered on Willard in Toledo. If the Mauler were to have made just one title defense before 1919 was over, Greb might have been the biggest draw of any American contender (especially since he served in uniform). Greb is recorded as ending January 1919 at 176 for Tommy Robson, just four pounds under Jack's alleged true weight for Toldeo.

Concerning Wills and the color line, I blame Jack Johnson more than anybody. If he hadn't chosen to be so incendiary, then maybe Wills would have gotten his shot at Willard, the champion he had the best shot at dethroning. Instead, we had to wait till Louis just so somebody could even step in the ring for a chance.

 

One of the major ironies of history, is the fact that if Johnson had not been arested under the Mann act, he might well have vacated the title after the Flynn title defence.

He might also have cashed out with a title fight against Sam Langford.

 

I don't think Dempsey consistently demanded dogfights of bigger opponents.
Firpo was supposedly not typical, and described by Teddy Hayes (I think) as a throwback fight to Dempsey's mining camp days. Many in the press noted Dempsey's recklessness and disregard for strategy. But I think Dempsey promised the fans that type of fight going in.

Willard, in Dempsey's words : "You can't fight a man like Jess, you have to box him". And that's what he did.

 

I haven't seen the Fulton fight, but he boxed Willard up to the point he had him in serious trouble, then went for the kill.

 

Wills >>>>>>>>>>Willard, Firpo, Fulton