Larry Holmes vs Jack Dempsey

I will take Dempsey in a fantastic fight. Jack was an animal, he was instinctual and varied his attacks so well, it was hard to beat him even for a smart technician/boxer like Tunney.

Holmes is not as adaptable as Tunney, Dempsey would be in and out, and hitting from angles, with a ferociousness much like Tyson when he fought Holmes.

Larry is a great, but Dempsey gets him much like Tyson did, It will be a little later, but near as Certain.

Dempsey KO

 

Oh, please tell me the great tests that Dempsey faced? A busy, crafty hard puncher in Harry Wi... oh no... A fast moving frenetic tornado in Harry Gr... oh wait...

And he dropped Tunney. How did that series work out for him against a guy who outyounged him by a whole TWO YEARS? Did that extra reservoir of youth that Gene possessed defeat the great William Harrison?

And now are we to only rate the fictional "active" Dempsey not the slovenly starlet fukking, controlled puppet who actually was "champion"?

It must suck to grasp for heroes so desperately that logic is the first victim.

 

I love the mythology that is the Manassa Mauler. But Holmes would school him. Dempsey, had all he could handle with Tunney. Yes, I know Dempsey was over the hill. But watch those films of the Tunney matches. Dempsey simply can't, or doesn't know how to cut off the ring. Tunney, leads him around the ring and Dempsey follows. It's like the dog chasing the mechanical rabbit, round and round they go.

Dempsey, when he fought Gibbons, same thing, couldn't cut the ring off. Dempsey, would look to attack Holmes, and be stuck in the face with that head snapping jab. Holmes jab would control Dempsey's attack. I'm seeing a late stoppage, or a wide UD win for Holmes. Dempsey, doesn't apply pressure like a Frazier. I think a swarmer like Frazier could wear Holmes down.

 

I'm a big Dempsey fan but I have to go with Holmes. I think it could be very dangerous for Larry in the the first 2 to 3 rounds as Dempsey would be looking to end things early as he usually did but after that, if he doesn't get hurt/stopped then Larry pulls away to either a decision or late rd TKO. Jack isn't out boxing Larry, at least not over the long haul so his best chance is to catch Holmes early. The longer it goes the better Holmes' chances are and that's how I see this going. After a few scary moments early from a fast starting Dempsey, Larry puts his jab into overdrive and keeps Jack at bay always wary of Jack's power. Size counts if it's coupled with ability and Larry had ability as well as one of the best jabs in the history of the HW division.

 

Are you talking about their two fights? Apart from the long count, Tunney schooled Dempsey. Of course, Dempsey was over the hill by then, but I would disagree that it was hard for Tunney to beat Dempsey. Tunney boxed him masterfully. Even Greb knew Tunney would win.

 

Holmes avoided all of the tough guys in his era, never unified and never rematched a tough fight. He fought guys with 10,12,13,14,15,16 fights and the usual European batch of slappers, Shavers and Snipes dropped him hard but neither had the 2 fisted power or the finishing ability of a prime Dempsey

The 2 best fighters Holmes beat were Kooney and Shavers the 2 best fighter he fought were Michael Spinks and Mike Tyson and he lost to both of them

Had Holmes fought the better guys he would have lost earlier

Dempsey was inactive for 3 years before fighting Tunney and then Sharkey and that was his fault he accumulated the rust but lets not make it like this would be a walk in the park for Holmes, Dempsey was fast, had 2-fisted power and was a finisher

 

I'm just not seeing the great heavyweight stylist in the period Dempsey fought. You watch the films from that era of heavyweights, the bell rings they meet in the center of ring and throw punches, and start mauling each other around the ring.

Dempsey, could punch and was light on his feet and quick with his hands. But he never came up against a man the size of Holmes, with his speed and skills in the ring.

The jab in Dempsey's era was underutilized among heavyweights. Holmes, would control the fight with his main weapon, and tie Dempsey up inside. Holmes picks him apart from the outside.

I'm a big Manassa Mauler fan. I just think Holmes is all wrong for him.

 

Dempsey was a great fighter but I would have to go for the reincarnation of Big Jack himself Big Larry Holmes.

 

Holmes.



Larry Holmes.

He's got the skill, the will and the chin to win.