Jack Dempsey, we need you now !

Obviously this has gone ridiculously overboard.

Seriously, I would love to see someone come out of somewhere to move us past the K2 era. Vitali stalled out the end of his career ad nauseum and now Wlad seems content to underperform and/or pick total cheese puffs.

 

Why are you so obsessed with the jab?

It is a marvellous punch, but it is not the only punch.

Incidentally, Dempsey did try to integrate the jab into his game for one particular fight.

It was the first Tunney fight, and it was a disaster for him.

 

I look at Dempsey on film and I see problems... but not unsolvable problems. I also see a lot of natural talent and real fighting instinct... and on film and in reading, it's obvious he possessed real power.

Who knows what a modern professional trainer would make of him? I think he had the mark of greatness as a fighter despite the shortcomings of his record and some of his performances. Would it be as a cruiser or heavy? I don't know.

Could he knock off a K? Certainly, he COULD. I reckon he punched as hard as Sanders. Would I bet on it? Probably not. But I've made mistakes on my bets before.

 

:thumbsup

 

Because it's the most important punch in boxing, the only fighters who can get away without using it have to have faster hooks/rights than their opponents jabs, which few have Dempsey included.

Dempsey certainly has the elements to be trained to be world class today but he would have to adapt.

 

Yea with a modern trainer he could be a technically sound solid boxer puncher of a high level. For instance if he had a Cus DeAmato as a 17/18yo he'd have raised his game several levels. And if he gained serious strength/muscle he could compete as a modern HW.

A 220lb ripped Dempsey who is a protégé of Cus DeAmato could potentially beat either brother but still may lose to Wlad.

 

Dempsey was voted the greatest fighter in 1950.

Jim Thorpe was voted the greatest athlete.

at least, if you are talking about the AP poll. I'm not aware of any other.

 

One thing can't be taken away from Dempsey.

He was aggressive and made boxing exciting. He took the fight to his opponents and he wasn't satisfied with edging out a decision or clinching his way to victory. He made boxing a wildly popular sport.

Dempsey's comments on boxers in later years always revealed that he knew that boxing was entertainment. You had to put on a show. A relatively small group will be satisfied for long with dancing around or jab and grab techniques.

Louis and Marciano followed his lead, and boxing remained popular.

Whatever one says about the Klitschkos, excitement isn't what they are about.

I don't think it merely chauvinism which explains the lack of popularity of Vitali and Wlad in the US.

They just aren't interesting to watch, and the fans are turning to other sports.