Jack Dempsey Against ...

He was in his prime when he fought Dempsey? Nearly 37 years old and 3 years from previously fighting? A good chin and a tough guy but the man was obviously hittable, especially seeing as he was old and in his last fight against Firpo. He didn't really fight too often for a man of his time but the 1-3 Joe Cox apparently knocked him out... for whatever it's worth.

 

Cox didnt ko him he quit, Willard was not in shape .
When I said prime ,I meant before he retired to come back against Floyd Johnson , at the age of 42.
Apart from Dempsey and Firpo when Willard was nearly 43 who else put him down?

 

Willard had a great chin. Before the Dempsey fight he never hit the floor. He did not have many fights as he turned pro at 29 and was near inactive from 1915 to 1919 ...

 

Long before Tyson came on the scene I always thought Joe would be a sitting duck in the first two rounds for Dempseys rock hard right hands for an early ko. Tyson the same, much the same style as Dempsey, just more !! in the early ko. Hydraulix has written the Dempsey-Louis comparison better then I could have, she covered everything there. Ali-Dempsey though is not so easy, Chuvalo did not have much speed moving forward, just strength and toughness, but he had Ali on the ropes often enough during their first bout with his body punches to put Jack as a good chance. Doug Jones and later Ellis showed Ali could be hit but a fast lead right if you had the tools and speed, and I think Dempsey showed against Willard he fit the bill there. I think Ali would have a little more left in the later rounds to take the decision, but its interesting.

 

Walcott could definately hit but he was very cautious for the most part and he was a terrible finisher.

Of course overall skills matter. You have to land. When you try to factor Firpo's power let's not leave out what he did to Dempsey. A ballplayer may be able to hit a baseball 600 feet but it does not matter if he cannot hit the curveball. No contact, no hit.

I can't argue with you more than saying look at the films and read the newspaper coverage. His power was huge and very evident to anyone looking objectively.

 

I don't doubt Dempsey had power. Of the 3 between Marciano, him, and Frazier I tend to lean toward him having the least power in 1 single blow. However, I admit he's the sharpest puncher of the three (In terms of quickness, accuracy, etc).

With Dempsey, though, I feel his durability was most overstated. His ability to fight while hurt was uncanny, though.

 

Yes, definatley. Ali would be trouble, but Liston did not do anything great as champ, and Lewis had a chin too weak.