Tyson versus Dempsey

I think he just wasn't in the best shape physically or mentally period. No way to tell until we see the miske bout(and I eventually will), but I think that he expected Greb to be a walkover and got swarmed and abused. Dempsey's a weird one though, his sparring footage looks a LOT better than his in fight ability frequently, against Tate we see him applying genuinely great slips, etc.

 

Yeah, it was after the first Brennan fight. The first Brennan fight may have been one of his best ever performances.

 

I think the opening moments of the Willard fight are awesome.
Obviously Willard gives him nothing to worry about, but you can see Dempsey thinking in there, and his movement is exceptional, IMO.

Dempsey shows some real grit and nice flashes in the 2nd and 3rd round too.

 

His jab style was similar to Tyson's, but probably even more under-used (considering his ample reach).

He throws some hammering jabs on Gibbons, but too few. Dempsey prefered to get in quicker and pepper the body with those mauling rib shots.

 

I would trade in Dempsey's wins over Fulton, Willard, and Firpo for a win over Harry Wills. He was just so much better than those other big men.

 

He's got a better record.
But if Dempsey hadn't had fought Willard and had fought Wills instead, we've probably have no footage or him at all.

As it is, we only have a couple of Harry Wills fights, past prime.

 

+ jack cuddy
+ burt bienstock.

 

Bert Sugar still does, I think. In 1971, you can bet your life he did.

 

A 2006 poll of the IBRO (International Boxing Research Organization) had Jack Dempsey in the top 20 pound-for-pound, at number 18.

I'm guessing the IBRO members and ESB classic regulars don't overlap much.

 

maybe tyson should have fought only white guys and made the comparisons more relevant?

 

He fought a very good white guys called McNeeley. That alone makes career comparisons with Dempsey relevant. :good

 

IBRO also ranks Johnson very high pound for pound as well. Which makes very little sense.