In light of this crazy Mayweather-McGreggor fight, what are some early examples of a boxer fighting a martial artist? Didn't Jeffries fight a kick boxer and KO him?
Jack dempsey fought a wrestler or two in a quasi-mma match when he retired (cant remember which retirement). He also apparently had a degree in brazilian jiu jitsu or some kind of grappling art. Perhaps the first professional mixed martial artist, but im sure there was always guys who fought with different martial arts and got paid for it. The younger generations claiming who matt hughes i think or the fedor fella were the first mixed martial artists are frankly quite naive or unimaginative.
Dempsey taught unarmed combat / self defense during WW2 theres even a book out called fight tough featuring him. I dont know where he learned these grappling moves. I believe theres a picture or 2 of him with one of the great legit wrestlers out there befor an exhibition ill look for the guys name and edit it in. Its Ad Santel who was a legit real wrestler wgo also beat Japans best Judo master. Dempsey after retirement age 45 i believe had a real fight with wrestler Cowboy Luttrell. It was fought with boxing gloves on because Luttrell said he could win that way. Dempsey KO'd him in the 5th I believe. Luttrell was a fake wrestler of course at this time all tv wrestling was fake but this was a legit fight over a call Jack made on another night when Jack refereed a match involving the Cowboy. This is easy to google.
