Razor Ruddock vs Jack Dempsey

Was looking through Willard's boxrec page, and saw that Willard was stopped by somebody by the name of Joe Cox. According to the review of the fight, Willard turned his back in the 5th round and climbed out of the ring, claiming he was in no condition to continue. This took place in 1911, 8 years before the Dempsey fight. Cox ended his career with a record of 16-8-2 (8 KOs), and was stopped 7 times himself. Willard claimed to have a shattered cheekbone as a result of the Cox fight, but refused an examination.

This got me to wondering whether Willard's injuries against Dempsey were ever verified. Accordingly to Wiki, the extent of Willard's injuries have been highly disputed, and that a few days after the fight, there were no traces of damage other than a few bruises. The Wiki article went on to say that a reporter from the Topeka Daily Capital said, "The ex-champion didn't have any black eye, nor any signs that he was injured in any way."

I'm a very casual observer of 1910s & 20s era boxing, and never really bothered to read up on Willard's injuries until now. I'm getting the feeling that some of the Dempsey folklore floating around is a bunch of crap.

 

That’s an interesting wrinkle & could be viewed as in or against Dempsey’s favour. If Willard was healed within days that would certainly lean logic away from the idea of loaded gloves, just as Dempsey betting big on a first round KO leans me toward loaded gloves.

 

I was thinking the same about the loaded glove accusations. Highly unlikely if Willard didn't sustain any serious injuries. It was a beatdown either way.

The variations in the stories of Willard's condition after the fight are pretty wild though.

 

I wouldnt read too much into that loss as Willard had not had many fights at that point and we dont know the details. We do know he went 20 and 25 rounds after that and he was a very tough man. For that matter Tex Cobb lost by TKO to Dee Collier 13-9 but Cobb was able to take Holmes for 15 rounds and even Shavers punches and ended up stopping Shavers.

 

Uh yeah no one would want to be hit with that period. If Dempsey were fighting in the modern era at 6´1 and 12 round maximum rounds he would weigh over 200 since to be a heavyweight you would have to.

 

Good point mate I wouldn't argue with what you are saying he was a real tough man who could bang with a man any size but if you go before the 50s or 60s most real big men weren't that good. You'd rarely see a guy of 6' 4" plus and 230 plus who also had good skill or were all round good fighters that's what I'd say in a case against dempsey against any class heavyweight 80s onwards

 

I agree with the overall point but I would argue Ruddock wasn’t a particularly skilled or particularly good big man. Certainly a contender but not on the level of a Lewis or Bowe.

 

Ruddock. Dempsey too small, too limited, refused to fight black contenders, he wasn't a real champion, just a paper champion. Dempsey fought clumsy limited guys from the local bar.

 

Dempsey is not the fighter who is limited in this match up.

 

No I completely agree that ruddock isn't anywhere near a bowe or Lewis but he is not a bad fighter who can puncha bit

 

I think the he gap between Lewis and Bowe is bigger than the one between Ruddock and Bowe.

 

He was dangerous but he also proved to be much less capable than Dempsey skill-wise.