Why the polarised views on Dempsey?

A few points : In September, 1920, Billy Miske was kod by Jack Dempsey
in 3 rds ,for the FIRST time Miske was kod in 103 fights.!
AND following that Dempsey fight, Miske was on a great run where he won
his last 22 of 23 bouts. he was at his best form surprisingly koing and beating the likes of Willie Meehan,[1],Jack Renault, Bill Brennan, Fred Fulton [1rd],and others.Billy Miske was in good form when he was kod by Dempsey
in 1920,as his winning 22 out of 23 of his next bouts. So give the much maligned Dempsey his due....

 

Yeah, I know that Miske did quite well after that fight. That's why I'm curious as to where the talk about his illness comes from.

 

I dont think Carpentier was any more or less manufactured than Firpo was.

 

.
B, Billy Miske suffered from "Bright's Disease",a kidney condition. He was most likely in "remission" from the time he fought Dempsey in 1920 to about 1922-03,when Billy was on his winning streak. He died in 1924, after bravely providing for his wife and children.. If EVER a boxing Bio should be made in
Hollywood, the subject should be Billy Miske,who knowing he had a fatal disease, undertook the rigors of boxing to provide for his family! What a dramatic tale to tell ! Cheers.

 

It is indisputable that Miske was sick when he challenged Dempsey. It was absolutely discussed by some in the press despite others choosing to look the other way. Furthermore, what had Miske done in the previous several years to earn a shot at Dempsey, ahead of people like Greb and Wills, in 1920? You cannot seriously argue that Miske was anything but a gimme for Dempsey in 1920. I dont think anyone then would even argue to the contrary despite choosing to ignore what several people knew which was that Miske had a serious illness which had caused him to retire the year before.

 

Firpo had beaten some top fighters. Whether you rate him as a fighter or not, you have to allow that his paper credentials as a title challenger were prety good.

 

The press also mentioned that he was recovered from his illness and had grown bigger and stronger than ever.
Pre-fight PR possibly, but the post-Dempsey Miske seems to have had a good run. Why is that ?
To be it suggests he must have made a semi-recovery somewhere along the line. I mentioned this earlier in a long response to a long post of yours. I know you have good knowledge of the era. What have you got on post-Dempsey Miske ?

You say his was sick for Dempsey, because he was sick the previous year. Was he sick for al his subsequent fights too ?l

 

K, you should know, i put no one fighter ahead of Harry Greb.Greb did lick
Miske after all. I had read a great article from a former fighter and boxing writer, by the name of George Barton. He knew Miske and Billy's family,and cited that Miske personally phoned Dempsey,beseeching Dempsey to give him a bout so he could have money for his last X-Mas for his family. As we know
Dempsey complied with Miske's request .Dempsey admired Miske's great courage. Dempsey did the RIGHT thing, not knowing that Miske would survive til 1924. And Barton wrote Miskey's kidney disease was in probable remission
alliowing Miske to win 22 out of 23 of his last bouts. What a great story for a writer to submit to Hollywood, I say...Billy Miske is one ofmy hero's !

 

Miske is a fighter that I have always admired.

You can read Dempsey giving him a title shot two ways. While he was not taking on the most dangerous available challenger, he was comiting and act of kindness for a desperate man.

 

I heard something about Dempsey and Miske being friends and Dempsey giving Miske this fight as a favour, no anything about that K?

 

In short it enhances his legacy as a man more than his legacy as a fighter, it seems.

 

O.K so exactly how weak were Dempsey's title defences?

Granted he failed to meet a couple of fighters he should have, but were any of them actualy weak title defences?

By todays standards they would all be well above par.