Mike Tyson circa 1996 vs 1919 Jack Dempsey

Dempsey couldn´t put Williard away with 49 punches on a totally defenseless target.

He wouldn´t get Tyson anyhwere. Big difference in chin*power baseline between the eras.

Tyson would just overpower and outgun him.

 

Done to death.

 

Any version of Tyson steamrolls the reedy Dempsey.

 

Dempsey has faster hands and head movement, but tyson is more accurate, polished, and has better overall ring iq. In terms of power, tyson i give a 9/10, dempsey an 8 in his own era and a 7 in todays era. Although tysons chin was better, dempseys recovery was better and he was able tp shake off the cobwebs and jump right back into the fray faster (see the firpo fight). Neither had particularly great stamina but dempsey being the lighter guy wont expel as much energy as the stocky beefy tyson if they fight at the same pace. Cutting and swelling wont be an issue unless theres a clash of heads, which is quite possible given theyre both gonna be fighting at close range with fast head movement.

Given all that, i think the only way dempsey wins is if he can play the hit and run game, using his speed and stamina advantage to land 2-3 for every 1 punch tyson lands. He has the skill and the grit to pull it off, but im not sure he can avoid bombs long enough to crack tyson and break him down with his own combinations. Since tyson is so damn accurate and brutal with high ring iq, dempsey winning a decosion is almost out of the question.

I think the most likely scenarios are: Tyson KO round 8, Tyson SD, dempsey TKO round 11, in that order.

 

Given the way the 1996 version of Tyson struggled with Holyfield later that year (and, quite frankly every other fighter he went up against for the rest of his career), I think a Prime Dempsey has a real chance. But, a 1986, pre-prison version of Tyson steam rolls any version of Dempsey.

 

Dempsey.


Tyson particularly after prison when he didn't create angles with his feet anymore, has major problems with being crowded.

Evander Holyfield by own admission got most of his strategy for beating Tyson from watching the Mathis jr and mcneeley fights and how he squared up, got pushed back and then looked confused when he was crowded.


Tyson after jail was so one dimensional and so used to opponents backing up that he had completely forgotten how to sidestep, time someone who is coming in or how to box.

It took him 3 rounds to finally remember to side step Mathis when you can see him regularily do it in sparring in his prime.

If Dempsey gets in quick, mauls and infights he can survive long enough for Tyson to tireand then he can take over.

If he tries to plant his feet and engage in a mid-range slugfest, then the same uppercut that lifted Holyfield off the floor shoots Dempsey into outer space.

 

Compared to that Willard and some others? Sure. Compared to his own best? When I watch him, I think he left alot compared to 86-88.

 

96. 86. 87. 88 ANY Tyson loses to 1919 Jack Dempsey by KO in 2 at the most. Ask Tyson himself. NOBODY PUNCHES WITH PRIME DEMPSEY AND SURVIVES

 

I definately agree with what you stated about post-jail Tyson. He almost looked horrible against Mathis, Bruno wasn´t the youngest either at this point.

I just don´t see Dempsey winning rounds or avoiding to get hurt to body and head. Late in der rounds? He is no counter-puncher, nor as strong as Holyfield either. I don´t know if Dempsey might have so much left after 8 rounds of Tyson.

Ask yourself this serious question:

"Against what HW ATGs do you see a totally defenseless Willard getting up SEVEN TIMES after FORTY NINE punches?"

Power my a**......

 

So much Dempsey downplay smh. Yes, Tyson would give him a hell of a fight, but people underestimate Dempsey. He was a great fighter with an astonishing mix of power, speed and skill. While Tyson was the stronger of the two, Dempsey is a fast and still very powerful hitter with a lot of precision, and a great understanding of the bob and weave and mixing it with his powerful drop step to deliver amazing blows. People like to use him tiring against Willard as a counter, but remember that Willard took a beating from Johnson for over 20 rounds and beat him by outlasting him, yet Willard was afraid of going back to fight Dempsey. Plus, Dempsey was out in the scorching sun during that fight, so him being tired isn't as simple as "Oh his stamina sucks ecks dee". Dempsey wins via late round KO or majority decision.

 

Dempsey runs over a '96 Tyson

 

People have forgotten from time what Dempsey would do to his opponents. So many first round knockouts... And my God, what he did to Willard was assualt...