Jack Dempsey in the 1970s

If history is anything to go by, if he managed to win a belt he would refuse to fight any of those guys due to their skin colour.

 

He’d have been among the top echelon contenders with a fighting chance against anyone he faced. He’s fallen down the ATG list with the passage of time but prime Jack Dempsey was a hellacious prize fighter.

 

You don’t think Dempsey would change with the times, that he would eternally be what he was in a different, less enlightened time?

 

Lol at Lyle teaching him a boxing lesson.

Lyle was a complete disaster against ranked guys. Didn’t beat a single one without being dropped or struggling otherwise.

 

Jack Dempsey when he had the gloves on was a vicious SOB. That will serve you well in any era.

 

Although he could be a nice guy out of the ring. I have an XXX-rated audio of a Friars Club roast of Humphrey Bogart from 1955 where Dempsey was there with Bogie and gets involved in the comedy.

 

Grow up, the eras are 50 years apart. Yes he would be more than a handful to deal with and would beat most possibly even Ali as Ali was so open for left hooks it really was his achilles heel.

 

Interesting question & as with Tyson brought into the same era, the timing here is crucial to determining how he performs. It’s really not enough to just say, “the 70’s.”

The permutations his career could undergo based on a year-by-year debut would be interesting, but it’s a lot of minutiae so I’ll limit it to two crucial maiden years - 1970 & ’75.

Scenario A - 1970 Debut

This Dempsey will be roughly in line for a title shot about in sync with young Foreman. Assuming (& it’s no safe assumption, mind) they haven’t faced each other, it will be a foot race to reach post-FotC Frazier. We know what Foreman does if he gets there, & I’d (reluctantly) pick Dempsey over any Frazier, so certainly the Frazier of early ’73.
If Dempsey beats Frazier & claims the title, Foreman remains merely a rising contender, for now. Norton in a few months rises to higher prominence than this alternate dimension Foreman, on account of his battles with Ali. Dempsey casts Norton asunder IMO but Ali is a different kettle of fish, & probably takes precedence over Foreman (who is continuing to make waves with convincing KO’s) at this time. I reckon Dempsey regards 1974 Ali as less risk than now-prime Foreman, but still probably doesn’t under-estimate him.

Peak Dempsey & ’74 Ali is intriguing, & hard for me to predict off-hand. For now, I’ll have an each-way bet & suggest if Dempsey beats Ali, he gets himself knocked out vs Foreman (the first round would be an unforgettable, instant classic with both men hitting the deck). If Dempsey can’t beat Ali, he then loses to Foreman as well & will remain top-shelf but unable to break through to the crown again, because in this timeline Foreman has dethroned a post-Manila version of Ali & reigns until at least, & possibly beyond, the arrival of Larry Holmes. It would all hinge really on whether he outsped Foreman to get to Frazier, & if he did, whether or not he can beat ’74 Ali. If Foreman gets to Frazier first, Dempsey either gets KO’d against Champion Foreman, or beats post-Manila Ali for the belt & awaits Holmes. He’ll likely, but not definitely, wear the crown at some point. How long he reigns could be wildly variable, though.

Scenario B - 1975 Debut

Obviously, this is a significantly easier road. There is no Frazier, Foreman or Ali to contend with now. The best contenders - Lyle, Young, Shavers if you rate him (I don’t), & an ageing Norton - are victims waiting to happen.

Holmes is just a little ahead of Dempsey, but enough that he’ll be Champ first. A fight between the two for all the marbles should eventuate by about 1978-79, with each at the height of their powers. It’s a fascinating fight to me because I can so clearly see either man winning it. Whoever loses will be back for another shot at the winner. If Dempsey can clear Holmes (two fights, two wins), then he’s in complete control of the division by 1980. He nearly kills Gerry Cooney & should be able to feast on the 80’s Heavyweights until, over the hill & enjoying super stardom, is blasted out by a hungry young Mike Tyson.

If Dempsey loses to Holmes, he’ll still fight & win his way back to another title shot. If he loses that, he’ll have to settle for a long career as a ranked but unmarketable contender, & an alphabet belt or two as second-fiddle. If the two men split their results, a trilogy is inevitable, & then either reigns until Tyson dethrones them as a result of age.

 

Is there a website where I can hear it?

 

A bigger, stronger and harder punching Quarry.

Wins a belt but gets spanked by Ali and Foreman.

Stands a chance versus the rest

 

Especially in this "Please don't hit me...."safety first" era of boxing! 1919 Toledo Dempsey would have a field day now!