Jack Dempsey v Max Schmeling, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Micheal Spinks

I think Charles and Walcott both have the style to beat Dempsey or at least give him hell. They are better than Tunney at the defensive countering game. Schmelling also had that style and his fast right counter may land on Dempsey whenever he made a mistake

Excellent defensive counter puncher boxers who had better foundamentals would always give Dempsey trouble.

Dempseys intensity, strength and pressure may get him the wins but these are tough match ups

 

Hmmmmmm

Max Schmeling could give Dempsey some problems with that overhand right. I could see him droping Dempsey or forcing him to fight through the the fog. Much depends on whether Dempsey lets Schmeling get into his stride. His best bet would be to jump him early like Louis did. If he lets Max get into the zone he will still probably win by late stopage but he might be in for a long night.

Ezzard Charlses boxing skills would give Dempsey problems and might even see Dempsey down on the cards but in the end Dempsey would catch up with him and take him out.

Joe Walcott probably has the best chance of the four of scoring an upset because he has the mobility to keep away from Dempsey. I suspect Dempsey would catch up with him in the end but it would by no means be an easy fight.

Michael Spinks again could give Dempsey some problems due to his boxing skill. I dont think it would necisarily be a Tyson Spinks style blowout. In the end though Dempsey catches up with him like the others.

 

I tend to agree.

Fighters like Peter, and Maskaev would be canned meat against a prime and rampaging Dempsey.

 

I'd pick Schmeling and maybe Walcott to beat him (at their best). Charles is a 50/50 fight at Heavy. Spinks would make it through to the midrounds before being taken out.

 

Dempsey held his own with Tommy Gibbons when it came to technical boxing so he would not be an easy asignment the boxing stakes.

It is still not a smart idea to try to out slick a slickster however.

This scenario is most likley to unfold against a slick boxer who dose not use mobility who Dempsey fails to get out early. A mobile boxer like Walcott would get on his bike and Dempsey would stalk him looking for a chance to finish matters.

Sombody like Charles is much more likley to end up in a snore fest boxing match with Dempsey that bankrupts a town.

 

All could give him problems. I like this thread McGrain.

Schmeling could be a very tricky fight. Ironically, I think (as do others) they share a facial resemblance. Max was a classy fighter, with no real weakness as such. That right will find it;s mark against Dempsey, but I'm not sure if Max has quite the mobility to keep Dempsey away. He was tough and a good counterpuncher though, so it's certainly no plain sailing for Dempsey.

Charles...probably would end up losing a decision. He just wasn't agressive enough to win on points, and he didn't hit hard enough to knock Dempsey out. He would do okay for a while, but his rather negative style would cost him.

Walcott...depends which Walcott. An on-form version could prove problematic for Dempsey because of that awkward style. Again though, I wonder if he would fight with the necessary conviction to earn him a win. Walcott too, often fought a negative, boring fight. If the Walcott from Marciano 1 shows up, this could get very interesting. That version could upset Dempsey, because he would be more agressive and not so defensive.

Spinks I think is getting sold a bit short. He only suffered one KO loss, against a murderous puncher who was revved up for the fight big time. He may not be a natural heavyweight by today's standards, but he was probably bigger than most of Dempsey's challengers at 6'2" and about 210. He was strong too, and could punch hard enough to make Dempsey respect him.
I think at his best, he has the guile and boxing ability to beat Dempsey, who would be the smaller man here.

 

Yes, he certainly has the tools and strategical mindset to cite and expolit Dempsey weaknesses. Schmeling wouldn't necessarily have to be the agressor against him, he'd wait patiently until Dempsey moves in and pick him off with counterpunches and big right hands. Dempsey was a good offensive fighter but not the wrecking machine force of nature many percieved him as.

Schemling is durable enough to last beyond the mid rounds, plus has the mentality, patience and fundamentals to pick the right shots in order to negate the Dempsey gameplan. In the end Schmeling would outsmart him to the decision with perhaps some rocky spells en route.

Just my take.

 

You might be both right and wrong here. I'd pick big guys like Foreman and Lewis to annihilate Dempsey, they'd be just too big, strong and powerful to handle. In Lewis' case he could settle for the decision buit wouldn't need to if he comes out firing mean straight away. I'd make Bowe a favourite too, Bruno might put up a decent showing but as ever once he takes a few big shots he'd freeze and end up getting stopped on his feet.

I do get your point about counterpunchers giving Dempsey trouble, though. For me he's just very overrated in matchups.

 

Just like Firpo was?

 

Schemling shouldnt really be a favourite over him. He wasnt as good a fighter. Less speed, less power etc