I heard on a documentary on Showtime Dempsey insisted the neutral corner rule following a knockdown to be used in his rematch with Tunney otherwise he wouldn't sign the contract. Is this true and why was he so insistent? :think
If that's the whole story, seems kinda strange since Tunney was seen as a master boxer, not a devastating puncher. Was that the first time the neutral corner rule had been used in a Dempsey fight? If so, its ironic Dempsey's demand could have ended up costing him the fight.
Something doesn't make sense since Dempsey wasn't used to the neutral corner rule nor did it benefit his style. In the fight against Firpo I remember him hoovering over him waiting for him to get up and then he'd attack as soon as he did, same thing with Willard.
Firpo fight was SUPPOSE to have a netrual Corner rule. But it must of slip the Ref's mind. It also slip Dempsey and Firpo's mind for that matter also.