It’s not like that was the norm for world title fights. Dempsey had been a seasoned 15-round fighter — Tunney had fought scheduled 15s half a dozen times or so himself. That distance wasn’t even reserved for title fights at the time. I know Dempsey had been relatively inactive and may have wanted a shorter distance ... but after he lost the title, surely Tunney would have figured the full 15 was more to his advantage in the rematch, and he could dictate terms (despite Dempsey’s star power) as champ. And while we’re at it, what was the last world championship match contested for 10 scheduled rounds?
Because HBO went off the air at 9 pm back then. Thus, shorter fights to be able to film the whole thing and interview the winner by Larry Merchant
I do not know for certain, but reading the other thread on this subject, two issues were raised. At the time fights in Philadelphia & Chicago were limited to 10 rounds. I think that is true, but am not certain. Anyone know for sure? A rebuttal was that they could have scheduled the fight at other sites, but, I think the only two stadiums in the US in 1926 & 1927 with a capacity over 100,000 were what became Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia and Soldier's Field in Chicago. So the potential (and actual) gates were greater than they would have been in New York City. I think another issue was what were the top ticket prices which would have been allowed in NY versus these other cities. *If anyone wants to bring it up, the seating capacity of the Los Angeles Colosseum (sp?) was not that big in the mid-twenties. It would be expanded for the 1932 Olympics. The two big New York ballparks, the Polo Grounds (seating capacity about 56,000 for baseball, but 82,000 for Dempsey-Firpo, and Yankee Stadium (around 60,000 in the mid-twenties). Yankee Stadium was expanded in 1928. For boxing, crowds reached 88,000 for Louis and Baer in 1935. All this is far below the well above 100,000 totals possible in Philly and Chicago.
Dempsey's team basically pushed for it, because of his poor conditioning. Tunney thought that the shorter distance favored him, and did not put up a fuss.
Because the law in Pennsylania was that all professional boxing matches were limited to 10 rounds. It wasn't until 1931 that 15 rounders were permitted. In Illinois the law was similar and was not until 1932 that 15 rounders were permitted.
NYSAC insisted that Dempsey meets Wills, no other opponents would be permitted. Dempsey chose Philadelphia (where bouts were limited to 10 rounds) to avoid the consequences, plus a lot of people were expected to attend the Sesquicentennial Exposition, good fight attendance was anticipated. After Sharkey beat Wills, Dempsey could fight in New York again, but the price of tickets in NY was limited to $27.50, while in Chicago Tex Rickard could be selling them for $40, plus the stadium in Chicago could hold more people than any place in NY. Bouts were limited to 10 rounds in Illinois.
But isn't it very likely that the size of the stadiums, and thus the potential live gate, would have been a critical consideration?
Since New York was out because the NYAC would not countenance a Dempsey defence unless Wills was in the other corner,and New Jersey was confined to no decision bouts, what was left?
Highly unlikely that the entire city, venue and promotional geographical arrangements would be chosen to cater to Dempsey wanting 10 rounds instread of 15. The whole saga of how the fight was made and how it ended up in Philadelphia is well documented anyway. Rickard would have put in on in New York but the authorities there came up with support for Harry Wills as challenger and would not accept any other.
