Who do you rank higher: Johnson or Dempsey?

Johnson, no contest.

I have Johnson at around #8 (and have recently considered placing him even higher, maybe Top 6) Dempsey is at #12. Dempsey is overrated, especially head-to-head (where I'd struggle to make him fave against any of the Top 10). :good

 

And Tyson's comp was much better also. Crude sluggers like Firpo don't impress me much, but such gets romanticised when dealing with legendary names.

 

Good idea.

Lets call it football.

 

What about Liston's pre title reign, that's certainly more impressive than Dempseys' constant ducking and diving routine and a mere 6 defences in as many years.

You critize Lewis, but yet he defeated far more top ranked contenders, made more frequent title defences against bigger, harder hitting and more skilled fighters than Dempsey ever faced and never got TKO'd by a Fireman called Flynn and the likes of Willie Meehan (who were surely a notch or three below McCall and Rahman). :yep

 

Do not even mention Willard in the same breath as Johnson, he simply wasn't anywhere the same level.

 

How exactly do you define their era of dominence?

Dempsey clearly has far more title defences for example so how do you define the point where Tyson is fighting at a similar level?

 

I dont think I agree.

How many ranked contenders did Liston beat during his pre title reign?

I think that all Dempseys title oponents would certainly have been ranked somwhere in the top 10 if rankings had existed through this period.

 

Where would Wills be ranked?

:hey

 

He would certainly have been ranked No1 for much of Dempseys title reign.

It is probable that he would have been a bit lower when Dempsey was coming up through the ranks gaining the No1 slot with his win over Fred Fulton in 1920. The reason I say this is because during this period he was doing a merry go round with the shells of Sam Langford and Sam MCVea who had already lost to Fred Fulton and other top white contenders.

 

Agree. Dempsey was more impressive on film, and struggled far less in his prime.

 

Holmes jab,

In your opinion who had tougher title defenses as lineal champion, Johnson or Dempsey?

In your opinion, who avoided the best competition ( ducking ) more as champion, Johnson or Dempsey?

In your opinion, who looks better on film?

 

Agreed. Tyson defeated opponents like Thomas, Berbick, Holmes, Spinks, Tubbs and Wiliams during his reign. Can you really say without breaking into laughter that Dempsey beat anybody of that ilk when he was Champ?

 

- Johnson. You've got wins vs Jeffries, Fitz, Jeanette, O'Brien and Ketchel, Langford, McVey etc. Much more depth. Many of his losses came when hwe was quite far past peak.

- Definitely Dempsey.

- Hard to tell, there's such limited footage of Johnson in comparison but from what I've seen (and read) he's defensively excellent, has good timing and underestimated power and could block and counter offenses seemingly effortlesslyeffortlessly. A fine combination puncher also. Dempsey looks very good offensively on film but size wise he'd struggle head to head against quite a few great who could match him for power and skills, and also isn't as well rounded a packkage as some believe.

There you go. Just my take. :good