Jack Dempsey was still pretty fit, he fought a lot of exhibitions in the 1930s. Imagine he launched a more serious official comeback, used novelty value to navigate himself into a championship fight and incredibly beat Jimmy Braddock ahead of the outstanding contenders of the day. How would he be regarded? imagine Jack beating jimmy Braddock for the title having avoiding Joe Louis, Baer, Schmeling, pastor, Retzlaf and Tommy Farr on his way. then Dempsey taking the title on the road, defending only against Jack Roper and Johnny Paycheck whilst ignoring Louis, Galento, Nova And Godoy? Folks might still marvel that Dempsey won back the championship after all those years but would anybody be under any illusions about who the best fighter in the world Really was?
I don't think Dempsey would have beaten Braddock at that point. But if he did, certainly that's an achievement that would have added significantly to his legend.
Adding to his legend yes, but adding to it beyond all recognition? I don’t think Dempsey could have possibly got past the guys in front of him at that point but no matter how well Braddock fought in his losing effort with Joe Louis Jimmy certainly was not the most reliable fighters was he? If Dempsey was matched really well and had fought himself into pro condition, been active enough like other successful veteran fighters on their comebacks I am not sure it could entirely be ruled out that Jack might cause an upset.
I wouldn't write him off completely, but he'd have been 42 years old and inactive 10 years, notwithstanding the exhibitions. But that's a tall order, and if he pulled it off, I think it would be viewed as an extraordinary feat that SIGNIFICANTLY enhanced his legend. Figure Jersey Joe was the oldest to become HW champ around 15 years after this would have happened, and had this happened, Jersey Joe would never have acquired that unique long-lasting distinction.
It's just another Dempsey put down thread. The fav thread on this forum sadly. To spice it up, now Dempsey has defeated Braddock yet is unworthy and ducks other fighters. Pathetic! These guys are such OBSESSED losers. Maybe it's time to go if this is the way things have become.
Imagine if Dempsey did what the Jack Dempsey Clone, Max Schmelling did in the first fight against Louis.
Just as I'd say Foreman's second career title win solidified his legend and made it easier to rank him in people's ATG top ten, Dempsey coming back and beating a live foe in Braddock would have him approaching the Louis-Ali tier in regular discussion, likely considering that he either vacates or loses to someone who loses to Louis later.
Can't say that this would be off in my estimation. Braddock would be all kinds of wrong for a 42 year old Dempsey coming off retirement, his counter punching and movement giving him fits.
After his four-round exhibition bout with King Levinsky during 1931, Jack Dempsey was convinced that a successful comeback was not in the cards for him. Dempsey would have been five years older by 1936. As a result, James J. Braddock, as the world heavyweight champion, probably would be too formidable for a 41-year-old Dempsey. - Chuck Johnston
IF this is supposed to be an insult of George Foreman, Foreman won the title 20 years after he lost it. Not seven or eight. A more on-point comparison would be more like Jack Dempsey or Gene Tunney coming back and, in 1949, knocking out Ezzard Charles for the title. And yes, it would definitely boost their already high regard. Or Ezzard Charles coming back in 1971 to win the title (after having lost it 20 years earlier). It was a big freaking deal. Get over it.
