Jack johnson vs Jack dempsey

Johnson never fought a pressure fighter in the mold of Dempsey. His energetic style, constant bob and weave defense and destructive all-out attack was something Johnson never dealt with. Dempsey by KO within 5.

 

I know ill be in the minority here but im really not impressed with Johnson on film.
What i c is a clutch an grab guy with a wide slapping hook who likes to hold and throw uppercuts. Combine it with wat i read and ill give him more slack.
I basically really like wat i c with Dempsey especially the clips wen hes younger where hes very light on his feet and had a very low and fast bob n weave.
Combine it with wat i read which is every book there is on his life and his technique book which is still widley held as the best technique book written and it is in my opinion also. The man knew his stuff and was a smart although sometimes reckless fighter.
I got Dempsey here and even easier if Johnson isnt allowed to constantly hold.
Which if thats the case then Dempsey by KO.

 

Dempsey represented a whole new animal, quickness, technique and power. I don't think Johnson's particular stance and footwork would adjust well to Dempsey's attack. And Johnson would not be enjoying the size advantage he had over many of his better opponents. I think the Johnson would pay too steep a price trying to stall out the proceedings to later rounds.

On the other hand, I feel that no one really got to see a prime heavyweight Johnson. At his alleged peak weight and ability, he fought relative non-entities, like the old wax figurine of Jim Jeffries. Perhaps there was a much higher ceiling to his abilities than I am imagining. Tho, if there was, it wasn't proven in the ring.

I'm shading toward Dempsey by late stoppaged with the caveat that he shows up focussed and hungry.

 

Dempsey's speed, mobility, power, combination punching, and ferocity would be too much for Johnson's clinch and somewhat stationary style.

 

The way to beat a slugger is via excellent boxing. Johnson was one of the greatest defensive boxers ever to live. The best Johnson boxes at distance and controls Dempsey in close to garner the win no matter the distance.

 

Dempsey was much, much more than a mere slugger. Technique wise, he was a modern fighter. Johnson's catching and parrying one punch at a time, coupled with limited movement and almost incessant holding was successful in his era, but obsolete for the new breed of fighter that was Jack Dempsey.

 

Agreed with this.

 

I am very familiar with the great all time skills of Dempsey. However I am also just as familiar with the great all time abilities of Johnson. At distance it's all Johnson. In close however was also Johnson's meat as he had an uncanny ability to not only control his opponents offense at close quarters but also at the same time drill home powerful uppercuts. Both men at their best Dempsey as great as he was would be the decided underdog. He would be fighting a defensive master who also was a master at feinting. No stoppage here just a clear decision win for Johnson.

 

I'm not going to start crusade against anyone wanting to pick Johnson... But...

Dempsey was longer and slightly taller than Johnson and he closed distance faster. When focused, he judged distance extremely well and he possessed great athletic ability, in terms of speed, to close that distance. Inside, Dempsey's body work was unparalleled in that day. This isn't lil Tommy that Johnson will be trying to keep under wraps. Unless Johnson can make adjustments from what we see on film, he gets caught. And the more I think of it, he gets caught earlier than later.

 

Probably not the popular pick...but I think Johnson. But it could be close...He would be better on the outside and strong enough to diffuse Dempsey on the inside for the majority of the fight...but here is underrated aspect to Dempsey's game that might throw Johnson off...When Dempsey is on the inside, ever notice how he keeps his feet moving? And he spins his opponents while blasting the body? Dempsey's quick feet allowed him to do this...this tactic if Dempsey is strong enough to break Johnson's clinch...might push Johnson into a faster pace than he wants to go at a given time in a fight. A decision fight either way.

 

Dempsey can out-firepower most opponents. But Johnson is, imo, on a level defensively shared only by Ali.
I think Johnson can weather Dempseys firepower enough to get his offense going, and win the fight. He was super aware. If Dempsey was bobbing and weaving, Johnson would be moving. If Dempsey is upright, Johnson would be striking with his cat like speed. He would be frustrating Dempsey with mind games too.

I see Johnson getting knocked down once, maybe twice.
Dempsey was an elite puncher. And those guys can always throw that one extra punch at that weird angle you didn't think they would throw. He would catch Johnson with a hook while Johnson was moving backwards, and would put him down again later in the fight with a hook on the inside.

But Johnson gains momentum further along the fight remaining fresh while Dempsey shows wear. Johnson saves a tremendous amount of stamina, and in a moment of opportune vulnerability, unloads a vicious attack on Dempsey, putting him down 4 times until it's stopped.

 

Longer and slightly taller? As in higher?

 

Well my money's on Jack!