How would Dempsey have fared against colored fighters?

I think Wills is the only one with a shot. I'd still favour Dempsey, but Wills would have a very live chance.

 

Since his own era includes 1916, I will add Langford. McVea would have been too tough a task in 1915 also. Wills, obviously.

 

Change thread title?

 

Although the term ‘coloured’ is historically correct for use in relation to Dempsey's era

 

Very well at his peak.

Wills might have surprised us.

Outside of that, he would just have been rounding up the best of a bad crop really.

He could have taken some had knocks on the way up of course!

 

I'd pick Wills to beat him but it's a pretty close 50-50, in 1916 Langford was technically better than Dempsey (from what I've seen) but he was passed his best and I'd pick Dempsey to win that one

 

Dempsey started to come into his own in 1918 .. to compare him in 1915 - 17 is a bit premature .. from 1918 on the obvious is Wills who was bigger and fought successfully against better opposition .. who wins I don't know .. I can see a Jeanette, McVey or a Langford being a threat to Dempsey at least until 1918 .. if Jack fought these men like say a Marciano beat older but still tough African American fighters we'd know a lot more .. if he fought and defeated Wills before Harry turned ancient we'd know a ton more about him.

 

A few points:

Dempsey's manager turned away an older Sam Langford, saying something close to he was too good.

Dempsey balked at an older Joe Jeannette in the ring and ready to go as a replacement for the guy he was scheduled to meet.

And as we know, he never fought Wills.

He certainly had his chances.

The only African American fighter I can recall that Dempsey fought was John Lester Johnson. Here are reports from the fight:

• Location: Harlem S.C., New York, New York, USA
• Referee: [url]Billy 'Kid' McPartland[/url]

Dempsey reportedly received $100 and Johnson $200. It was the first "mixed" bout allowed since the ban had been lifted, according to the New York Sun.

Opinions as to the winner were divided. Also, the weights mentioned varied from one newspaper to another.

The headline in the New York Sun read: Johnson Outpoints Dempsey and Local Boxer Has Easy Time Beating Salt Lake City Lad.

One New York newspaper gave this report in a one-inch story: "John Lester Johnson outpointed Jack Dempsey in the Harlem Sporting Club last night. Dempsey failed to live up to the reputation that he earned in Salt Lake City, and was an easy mark for the local boxer."

Another newspaper reported: "Neither boxer was ever in danger, but at the finish Johnson was very tired from the heavy punishment he received in the mid-section and around the head."

The New York World called the fight "a fast ten-round draw."

The New York Tribune reported: "John Lester Johnson won over Jack Dempsey."

The Salt lake Tribune reported: "Jack Dempsey, the Salt Lake heavyweight, who has been causing such a stir among New York fans since he left here recently, last night won by a big shade over John Lester Johnson, one of the toughest negro fighters in New York. In their ten-round bout before the Harlem Sporting club, according to a telegram received by Dempsey's manager, Jack Price."

In his book [url]A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s[/url], Roger Kahn writes: "The consensus of sportswriters gave a big hand to Dempsey's courage and a narrow decision to Johnson."

Shortly before Dempsey won the World Heavyweight Championship in 1919, The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette quoted him as saying the following about his fight with John Lester Johnson: "In the second round, Johnson pulled something on me I had never seen before. He just lifted my right arm up high and then soaked me in the ribs. He broke three of 'em for me. He hit me on the chin in that round, too, and I saw many a star. He knew too much for me. ... I thought he licked me. I didn't know how to fight then, and Johnson did. Yes, I think he won and he taught me more that night than I have ever dreamed of before."

In the January 1960 issue of Ebony, Johnson was quoted as saying the following about his fight with Dempsey: "I said that night that he was going to be champion. That guy could really hit. He hit me so hard and so fast for a while there I could hardy get my breath."

Dempsey later hired Johnson as a sparring partner.

Johnson was the last African-American fighter Dempsey would face during his career.

 

What colour do you mean ?