Lyle replaces Firpo and fights Dempsey. Firpo had Dempsey out of the ring and Lyle was a better boxer than Firpo and arguably hit as hard. How does Dempsey do or does Lyle dethrone Dempsey?
Toss up imo, tho it'll be unpopular. I think Dempsey gets it done, but I wouldn't adverse to someone who said Lyle KOed him. I mean he did nearly KO Foreman who had a much better chin than Dempsey. Also he clearly can take a punch going toe to toe with Foreman. Dempsey's work rate would win him rounds and I think that's how he wins, but if he saw red and brawled it's a complete 50-50
Dempsey does what he did to Firpo ,he gets back in and stops him.Lyle was stopped by Ali ,who wasn't in Dempsey's league as a puncher.
Dempsey is too fast and too hard a puncher for Lyle, though I wish this was with a peak Dempsey. Dempsey may have to get off the canvas for an early round KO
Firpo wasn't in Lyle's class as far as athlete or boxer. He's likely the worst filmed heavyweight title challenger we have, just abhorrent to watch. And he was a cheapskate who couldn't be convinced to pay an actual trainer to prepare him. If Jack gets as sloppy as he did against Firpo (and at that point he had reason to be confident) Lyle takes him out, or at least gets the ball rolling to lead to a stoppage. Lyle KO5.
How? Just How? Is Lyle less durable than lightheavy Tommy Gibbons? Less durable than Brennan? Or even Tunney? How does this occur in the real universe?
I think there is a mistake being made in assuming Dempsey would be as sloppy with Lyle as he seemed to be with Firpo or that Lyles more conventional style would be as troublesome to Dempsey as the awkward Firpo IMO Dempsey beats Lyle...possibly by stoppage more than likely decision as Lyle had some enigmatic results by stopping Shavers after taking some sledge hammers proves a chin...life and death battle with Foreman proves heart and power and chin....stopped by Ali in 11 showed? stamina issues? is defeated early by Quarry in a decision I love Dempsey as a fighter and he was proof of what a more modern style could do to the previous eras heavyweights styles and he had bone breaking power, speed and durability but I gotta give Lyle credit for his chin and toughness...a big decent heavyweight but not fast enough for s fighter as quick as Dempsey....he would get clipped possibly dropped but stopped ehhhh unless it is mid to late I just don't see Dempsey doing what Foreman could barely do and what Shavers could not especially early to mid...late is a possibility but IMO it was mobility and speed that troubled Lyle....Dempsey Decision or late TKO I just cannot with confidence place Dempseys power in the Shavers, Foreman or Cooney class but I can place his hand and foot speed in a Tyson/Patterson/Louis class
