did Jack Dempsey vs Jack Johnson really happen?

I've seen a supposed newspaper report on this bout

 

Jack won it.

 

You hear the odd rumour, but in the absence of some prety solid evidence we should assume that it didn't happen.

 

I read the report. The fight was alleged to have happened in a private location in Canada with Dempsey scoring a KO.

Nat Fleischer researched this report hard, and his conclusion was, the fight never happened.

 

delete

 

That is was the best kept secret in boxing, ever.

 

I've never read anything like this at all. Johnson always thought that he'd have beaten Dempsey though. I'm inclined to agree.

 

On a boxing level, not a lot. On a social level, quite a bit.

 

good post mendoza!

 

I am not sure that it would have meant little on a boxing level. Obviously, if Johnson had won, we probably have a new greatest of all time, possibly by quite a way, although some people still legitimately rate Johnson no1 anyway so it may not have mattered.

Regarding Dempsey, if it happened like it happened, i think it is a good win to add to his legacy. Dempsey has one of those legacies where it doesnt really look as good on paper, as it obviously was. A win over Jack Johnson, even an old Jack Johnson would definitely be a big (not huge) win. Probably every bit as impressive as Lennox over Tyson or Tyson over Holmes.

Also, it would have been very significant and interesting to see how Johnson's older stance matched up with Dempsey's ferocious combination throwing and higher work rate. Could Johnson slow him down to his pace and was Johnson's age the deciding factor.

 

#
but Dempsey won?

 

Hmm....if there's a link to a newspaper article on this, I'd like to see it.

 

Johnson claimed a lot of bull**** but could not convincingly get past the likes of Choynski, Hart, O'Brien or Johnson.

I'm inclined to disagree.

 

Don't forget Jeffries and the ,"drugged tea"