I dont have an agenda against dempsey. Im telling it like it is. firpo hurt dempsey with a barrage of punches, and dempsey fell out of the ring being ruled correctly a knockdown.
Once in the first 5 seconds of the fight demsey charged in firpo caught him with a right dropping him to a knee. Thats 1. 2nd time firpo gets up from knockdown catches dempsey with a big right hand making dempseys gloves touch for a knockdown. thats 2. 3rd time firpo knocks dempsey out of the ring. thats 3.
Yes, it was a knockdown, and yes Dempsey was hurt, but people always emphasize that he was knocked out of the ring, as though this makes the knockdown more significant than it was to make Dempsey look bad. Dempsey would have gone down no matter what, but he was just unfortunate enough to be at the exact wrong place and Firpo punch/pushed him through the ropes. It was a knockdown for sure, but only a knockdown.
Wills was treated poorly and denied his shot .. to judge him off footage as an old fighter is too convient .. when a fighters managers, trainers and promoters dont want him too fight an opponent, there is a reason .. we saw it with Boew Lewis ands we saw it with Wills Dempsey .. I haver ni idea who would have won if they fought in 1920 or 21 when both ever still in or near their primes but I'll never buy Team Dempsey wanted the fight and made every effort . No way .... I"m sure Jack would have fought him but Kearns and Rickard wanted to protect their meal ticket at al costs .. they had doubts at the very least ..
Tyson had a far bigger impact on the sport, and is the most exciting to watch. Not to mention he is better prime vs prime.