Do you hold it against Jack Dempsey for not fighting Harry Greb?

Good question but I feel here a setup is a setup. I completely agree that his ducking Wills was horrific and a huge asterisk to his career.

 

Impressive but not as impressive as Dempsey. Dempsey went for the kill and got clipped. He gave the fans their money worth and destroyed Firpo. Wills fought a boring fight with Firpo and didn’t impress me nearly as much but yes he was past prime and perhaps losing interest in the sport as he could not secure a shot at the title.

 

Jeanette was not the fighter that was scheduled to meet Dempsey if I’m correct. To me Dempsey was in his right not to take the match although it caused bad PR. Lot of fighters jump in the ring and issue challenges doesn’t mean you fight them. Their is a business side to the sport as well.

 

1916 Dempsey was 3 years from the title perhaps taking on a seasoned vet would have been a bad move for him at that point in time. And again a straw man argument. I asked if you or anyone on the forum finds it odd that Wills and Langford fought an absurd 17 times. If anyone knows if all 17 bouts were on the level or if they were even fought at full tilt.

 

Thanks just read this and it fits with what I knew of that situation.

 

See, Dempsey is still reigning king. He and DURAN are the subject of more threads the last 10 years probably than any other 3 fighters combined. 3&4 are TYSON and Liston. Long live the King Jack Dempsey!

 

I have a hard time believing many of those fights were 'on the level'.
Box a man 17 fights and about have of them are going to be arranged result exhibitions. It's business

 

How did the typewriter help him,Dempsey damaged his back and shoulder when he fell on the table and tore his rectum open,I don't think he got much assistance from those inanimate objects.

 

No he gets more credit for dropping and hurting Firpo numerous time on way to a second round tko. Just happens to be in one of the most exciting fights in heavyweight history.
Again i’m Not hating on Wills - his waltz with Firpo could easily be attributed to styles not meshing but fact remains that fight is a complete stinker.
If the idea was to drum up excitement for a bout with Dempsey it failed miserably. Wills maybe/probably would not have received his shot even if he had one more spectacularly but he did himself no favors with that fight.

 

We didn’t live through those times to say Dempsey was afraid, that is anti Dempsey revisionism. Yes Wills deserved the fight that is without question, the reasons for not receiving the bout seem to be complex and varied. The fear of riots, the racism of society, the chance the bout wouldn’t sell, checks bouncing, I think fear on Dempsey’s part comes way down the list on most likely scenarios.
Ray Arcel believed Wills was a glorified sparring partner, Dempsey noted he was slow of foot and after the Sharkey bout reports said Wills never would of stood a chance at any time against Dempsey. Now do I believe all that, no, lot of it is hyperbole of the era but I don’t go cherry picking quotes to better my argument or bash a fighter. Wills deserved his chance it was unjust he didn’t receive it, glossing over his resume I think if you look beyond the surface he is overrated based on merit. And the past prime footage of Wills doesn’t unfortunately help put him in a good light.