Question:Why some have Rocky overJack?

Marciano might have the better resume, but there is still a big stylistic dynamic working against him here.

 

Thanks for the response, McGrain. I imagine Dempsey was in a difficult spot and don't honestly believe he had a fear of Harry (Wills, that is), compounded by the idea his style would've played favorably into Jack's hands. It is worth taking note he was in a position of power to push for it if he'd wanted, but I doubt legacy was much on his mind. Rarely is. It just gets a little depressing reading the same jargon about Rickard and race riots. :verysad

 

Well not just Dempsey.. he does the same about Greb. I like Burt, I just think he has goggles sometimes.

As for the fight... People are acting like Dempsey had blinding speed the likes of Meldrick Taylor.. He didn't. Rockey was simply better in more areas and fought better opposition. It's really that simple. When you have somebody with more skills and advantages... PLUS... fought better people and did better against them... How on God's Green Earth can people still pick the other guy is beyond me. Rocky KO 5

 

Burt,

Keeping your steadfast belief that it was race riots that prevented the fight and that it couldn't possibly of been fought elsewhere in mind and without placing the blame squarely on Dempsey's lap, it may be time to give that little, almost insignificant inch and admit that Dempsey wasn't particularly keen on going through with and fighting Wills. He wasn't interested in middleweight Greb or an all but shot Sam Langford. Dempsey won the title and saw fit to milk it for all it's worth like any good businessman would. He was neither the first nor last to do so. Consequently, not everyone can have their cake and eat it too and that led to a mediocre title reign and a diminished legacy, particularly with an inexplicable halt in activity level and deep freeze of the most prestigious championship in professional sports. It's just a bit bothersome for example, how gleefully you love to wax about Ray Robinson avoiding Charley Burley and Cocoa Kid - even throwing Archie Moore's name out there - when Robinson didn't have an fraction of the obligation to fight any of them that Dempsey did Harry Wills, his #1 contender for a number of years.

 

Sensational analysis :rofl

 

I favor Marciano slightly because I think he had some advantage in stamina (though not a great advantage), and hit a bit harder, and I think he took punches a tad better -- thought hose last two points could be debated.

Also, the many times Dempsey took hard rights early in fights -- GunBoat Smith I, Brennan, Carpentier, Firpo, Tunney. Against that, Jack was gritty, and could generally contrive to atleast get his chin-proper out of the way; on the other hand, such a tendency against a right like Marciano's is tempting the fates.

All this being said, if the two could be brought together, it might all come down to who has the better inside game, and it's possible that this would be Dempsey.

 

In addition my previous analysis, I feel that Marciano is more focused than Dempsey. Jack could get frustrated and get reckless and desperate. Marciano was much more cold-blooded and calculated in his approach. And when the end was in sight, Marciano was just as vicious.

 

Well Dempsey could be patient and methodically break a guy down. Watch what we have of the Brennan fight.

 

A very long diatribe on perhaps the most tongue-in-cheek brief portion of the post. Of course, he wasn't going to fight Langford. I just find the whole bit of half-blind, deteriorated Langford coming for what would've been a great favor being told they wanted someone a little easier humorous. Wills certainly wouldn't fall in that description at that point ? Greb would've been a plenty viable contender and it's evident from the reports of their sparring and was even discussed at different times. There isn't anybody of that era with the steam to "pick on Greb". He damn well could've lifted the title off Dempsey.

I'm not out to diminish Dempsey, I just don't think much of his opposition, title reign, freeze out of the title and lackluster effort to fight his #1 challenger in comparison to not only Marciano but other great Heavyweights in general.

 

No way does Marciano beat Fireman Jim Flynn and if Firpo knocked him out of the ring, he might well stay there. A 37 year old, inactive Jess Willard was leagues better than Joe Walcott at that age, and would have left Marciano on ***** street. Of course Dempsey was fast. Who else could have bested the lightening reflex's of Sugar Jess Willard?

 

SNV, obviously.