Was Jack Dempsey a harder puncher than Evander Holyfield

Of course, noone knows for sure. I have a hard time seeing Holyfield knocking Willard around in the first round, even a faded Willard, as Dempsey did. I think Willard would be staggering and stumbling but he would stay on his feet. However I also have a hard time imagining Dempsey taking out Dokes and Douglas with single shots like Holyfield did. Im not sure if this is due to my inconfidence in Dempseys power or his style/skills

 

Yes he did, Dempsey was a natural puncher,he had 2 hammers, Evander was an extremelly athletic guy,very explosive and fast when threw his punches he used full torque of his body, he squeezed out all the hitting power he could generate with this skill+ the musculature of a bodybuilder and still he was not a huge puncher, he usually needed to hit again and again and again to stop somebody.(in rare exceptions he landed the perfect single punch).

 

I do think that Dempsey was more dangerous puncher. Evander was a bit more versatile but he didn't have raw power and agression of Demspey. Dempsey did some terrible things to his opponents and I don't think Holyfield would do the same.

 

Douglas quit, and Dokes was a war before he succumbed. Dempsey was more vicious...I haven't a clue who hit harder

 

Top post..This is how it is

 

Pound for pound.. DEMPSEY.

 

Self evidently I would say.

I can't see anybody taking some of the beatings that Holyfield dished out, from a puncher like Dempsey, and not leaving the ring on a stretcher.

 

Holyfield is massively underrated as a puncher, too of the best chins in the business Tyson and Foreman praised his punching power.

 

Whilst Holyfield’s punching power is underrated I still believe Dempsey to have hit harder

 

Only Douglas knows if he quit or not. Been a while since Ive seen the Dokes fight but from what I remember it was certainly a war but Dokes wasnt taking a serious beating. I remember being surprised at the sudden ending

 

How many more of Holy's opponents would he have stopped had he been allowed to stand over his fallen foe and hit him as soon as he got his gloves off the canvas.

When I imagine a full heavy Holy facing the likes of sick Billy Miske, or Carpentier or Tommy Gibbons, I get almost sickened foreseeing the outcome. And as far as that simple galoot Willard, not sure he would even be allowed to graduate from the 4 rounder class in Holy's time. That would be much the same slaughter that Dempsey administered, with or without Vander being able to stand over the fallen Willard.

You simply can not compare the results of fighter facing the sort of competition that Dempsey faced to the results against those Holy faced at heavyweight. It is beyond disingenuous to the point of willful, determined ignorance.

 

I love Holyfield. He's my 4th (maybe 3rd favorite) favorite fighter! But their is no way, he hit harder than Dempsey. It's not even close.

 

I’m glad we had the “ I don’t know “ option because the truth is I really don’t. Very difficult comparison to make given the vast difference in opponents, glove size and other factors. Could Holyfield have destroyed the aged Jess Willard in the same fashion that Dempsey did or reversely could Dempsey have dropped Riddick Bowe the way that Evander did in their third fight ? Who knows?