Is there a case for Dempsey beating Usyk?

I’d argue Dempsey would be the best body puncher Usyk fought, not to mention probably being the best combination of speed and power he’d fought as well. From what I remember, Jack didn’t have much trouble with the physicality of Usyk-sized opponents either, and was likely the most relentless and explosive fighter Usyk would fight, throwing the . It also works against Jack here as well, Usyk being (from what I know) the first southpaw Jack fought and the most skilled 210+ pounder he fought as well. Dempsey’s chin was sturdy but he was far from unhurtable and Usyk is an underrated puncher.

Is there a case to be made here? Would he a stand a better chance than most all time greats in H2H matchup against Oleksandr?

 

No he's too small and rudimentary to ever give Usyk trouble imo

 

Hungry Dempsey, before he got rich and comfortable and became more of a media personality than a fighter, at full fury would be a tough assignment for anyone.

 

Rudimentary is probably one of the last things I’d call Dempsey, his style isn’t something you see in most eras. That explosivitiy and workrate, exploiting every possible opening on the inside, his head movement even past his prime was still pretty elite albeit inconsistent, the way he closed distance through constantly shifting is also pretty unique to most eras. From the outside I could see the argument for him being somewhat basic especially compared to Usyk but he’s got a ton of tools that help him get on the inside, that isn’t even mentioning his speed and power. Would he be the fastest puncher Usyk fought with the highest rate early on in a fight?

 

Compared to Usyk he's rudimentary and his track record against good boxers isn't exactly great plus Usyk i think would be more then capable of pushing Dempsey off if he needed to. So don't really see a path to victory for Dempsey here

 

Short of some fluke, no.

 

Dempsey's path to victory is to sock Usyk in the jaw

 

Rudimentary? He made moves famous I only see done and not very well by 130lber’s - comrade you are mistaken.

 

He also left himself wide open, lost focus, and often had no Plan B. Some might say he was a 4 round fighter.

 

Dempsey was kill or be killed and he was very good at doing the killing but I agree with you on most points here.,, though I wouldn’t say he was a 4rder in the “novice pro” sense but that he probably did drop off after 6 or less much like Tyson, Satterfield or Gomez. I think Dempsey may have suffered with at times trying to “force” the KO, Toney lost the early rounds to Nunn for this till Miller slapped him across the face and basically said “keep your head mf-er do what we came here for!” Jack came from a different time, people couldn’t just stream your fights you had to make it worth it for them to come so you could be paid - Robinson could fight differently, but he played on the bulls horns and hurt people lest he meet a fate like Burley.

 

Yes he could and would most likely beat Usyk, unless he gets to fight the Dempsey who faced Tunney.

 

Who did Dempsey beat who was remotely as big and good as Usyk? This means head to head. And if you think Jack Sharkey would last 4 rounds with Usyk you're mental.

Be happy with Jack being a historically important figure in the sport.

 

I don’t think Dempsey would beat Usyk but he’d savage Artur and Bivol. I’m happy he’s so historically important, many are, you seem unhappy about it doe.

 

If Bivol isn't too slick. It would be a good fight.

The problem with Usyk is that I've only seen one dude come close (real, real, real close) to beating him and that was Dubois going to the body. And Fury was hurting him to the body also. But those dudes were massive and imposed themselves to get those shots in. Dempsey would be wise to target the body but couldn't physically impose himself to carry it out.

 

Good fight? I don’t think so, I think Bivol gets ran over, not winding you up I’m stone serious. I don’t think Dempsey beats Usyk he was fast with it and could hurt him but Usyk’s chin is guarded well and made of authentic stuff, Dempsey came from a dry era of Southpaws and wasn’t overly big, small really he’d be too wee and his gifts while great for his size don’t translate to a guy THAT big, foreign in style and as good as they come - for example I give Chris Byrd good odds against Ali, Ali hadn’t seen a guy like that, I give Usyk really, REALLY good odds (favourite) over Ali because he was as big, as good (if only just short of him) durable and a busy southpaw.