Jack Dempsey vs Muhammad Ali

I agree.

Foot speed is something Dempsey had to a huge degree, for what it's worth.

 

Ali dominates him from start to finish and stops him late.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack another point.

All I know is that Dempsey was a fast-footed pressure fighter. He can be seen coming forward up on his toes, throwing plenty of punches punches for 15 rounds on film against Gibbons, and for most of 12 against Brennan.

I'm not saying he beats Ali.
But he tended to come forward fast on his feet and apply pressure, which is something Frazier did also.

Well, it was just the way he fought. That should be an indication of sorts.
Of course, he never fought an Ali. But we can speculate.

I disagree. Films of Tyson against Tucker shows that he often became a flat-footed heavy-legged fighter in longer fights in his prime, he loses a lot of foot speed or for whatever reason doesn't sustain it.
Dempsey chased guys up on his toes for 10, 15 rounds.
The films show that.

 

Ali could punch when he wanted to (and his hands were right), I have no doubts about that. :good

 

Brennan and Levinski were also cracked by Dempsey as well.

 

I don't think you can read into too much from what Dempsey says, he came across arrogant in his retirement, what I would like to read more on is Dempsey-Miske 1 in 1918, which Miske may well have won

I don't think Ali hit THAT HARD, but accuracy, placement, timing and speed can make up for that, he hit hard enough. Just because someone's not an obviously brutal puncher, people think they are easy to walk down, big mistake

Punching power is probably the most over rated attribute anyway

 

Given the topic of Ali-Dempsey, isn't it interesting both Ali and Tunney were afraid of Liston and Dempsey before they faced them. Ali whispered to Dundee 'do you think we can pull this off' before entering the ring. Tunney used to wake up in the middle of the night having nightmares of Dempsey

 

understandable, both fear inspiring figures. i'm sure buster metaphorically pissed the bed a bit too.

 

There's quite a bit of post-fight commentary on Dempsey-Tunney from observers who noted Dempsey's legs were gone, that he'd lost a step or two and gone flat-footed.
To me he looks different on the film from the Willard and Gibbons and Brennan fights.
But, yes, Tunney was better than those men.

We can only speculate then.

 

You shouldn't have read that book.