Jack Dempsey - Technique

[JAB5239]

His book "Championship Fighting" is probably the most instructive boxing manual ever written.

"Dempsey is the greatest fighter I have ever seen. He hits twice as hard as Jim Jeffries and is as fast in the ring as James J. Corbett."

-Sam Langford

[Miburo]

[


Jack Kearns had bet $10,000 with 10 to 1 odds on Dempsey scoring a forst round ko.

I'm not sure of the exact amount but I believe it was his entire purse for the fight. Dempsey had to be fuming.

[JAB5239]

I'm not sure of the exact amount but I believe it was his entire purse for the fight. Dempsey had to be fuming.

I can't find exactly how much Dempsey made right now, but Willard got 27,000 for the fight as champion. So if the ten large wasn't Dempsey entire purse, Im sure it was a good chunk of it.

[Miburo]

I can't find exactly how much Dempsey made right now, but Willard got 27,000 for the fight as champion. So if the ten large wasn't Dempsey entire purse, Im sure it was a good chunk of it.

It may well have been, that was a large sum of money for those days and it was largely during Dempsey's championship run when he was on par with Babe Ruth in popularity that the real money started to come into boxing (first million dollar gate in sports). Dempsey was a millionaire sportsman in the 1920s, quite an unbelievable prospect to imagine.

[Terry A]

I can't find exactly how much Dempsey made right now, but Willard got 27,000 for the fight as champion. So if the ten large wasn't Dempsey entire purse, Im sure it was a good chunk of it.

Jab5239,
On page 99 of "Dempesy", written by Jack himself and copyrighted 1977, Dempsey says that after much haggling, his purse for the Willard fight was $27,500.
Something else...on page 112, Dempsey says that right before the fight started, Willard "had the nerve to approach Doc for legal immunity in case he killed me." THAT is trying to get into somebody's head!

Also, I like your signature about what Sonny said about Big George. That's strong stuff!

[JAB5239]

Jab5239,
On page 99 of "Dempesy", written by Jack himself and copyrighted 1977, Dempsey says that after much haggling, his purse for the Willard fight was $27,500.

My source came from a Cox's corner article asking the question "if Dempseys glove were loaded". Its interesting Dempsey could command the bigger share at that point, if these numbers are correct, considering he was such a big underdog.

Something else...on page 112, Dempsey says that right before the fight started, Willard "had the nerve to approach Doc for legal immunity in case he killed me." THAT is trying to get into somebody's head!

This I believe without a doubt. Everything I have read says Willard was supremely confident in beating Dempsey. Dempsey himself has said that it was Willards biggest down fall. If he had taken him more seriously he may have killed him....or something along those lines.

Also, I like your signature about what Sonny said about Big George. That's strong stuff!

Lol, makes ya think, don't it?

[them_apples]

Here's a video of Jack Dempsey displaying actual technique for those more accustomed to seeing the highlight clips of him swinging for fences to finish off downed opponents (the majority being a video of him sparring against Bill Tate).

when I give Dempsey hell it's because of his overrated resume, not his skills. The guy was obviously a beast in the ring. I can't see how the guy is often only a few places under Louis and Ali, those guys accomplished so much more.

[KostyaTszyu44]

dempseys performance against willard is one of ym favourite individual performances of all time, he didnt show a ton of skill but the raw determination and strength he showed to topple the big man was sensational

[LondonRingRules]

when I give Dempsey hell it's because of his overrated resume, not his skills. The guy was obviously a beast in the ring. I can't see how the guy is often only a few places under Louis and Ali, those guys accomplished so much more.

** When I give posters hell, it's because of major seismic faults in their logic.

However, it's only hell for those failing to have the intellect to properly process boxing history. It ain't rocket science as much as an art to properly understand the context of eras.

Now, Jack had more recorded fights than the examples you provided, Louis and Ali. Only Louis has an incrementally better record by pure numbers, so no shame there.

Jack's title record is 7-2, 7 straight wins with 5 of his 9 title fights being against era HOFers. OK, titlewise Jack falls short, but only by modern standards where title fights are held more frequently.

Remember, in spite of having to take off 3 prime yrs of his career due to management problems that have been the bane of great talents through the ages, he comes back straight away against 3 HOFers. Has any heavy champ able to successfully defend or win back a title after such a layoff against prime HOFers?

So is Jack to be faulted for attempting the impossible now?

Moreover, the first Tunney fight was held in a rainstorm in late September Philadelphia, highly unusual conditions that don't favor older, softer, rusty champs. In his next fight, he knocks out future champ and HOFer Sharkey, and then arguably knocks Tunney out in one of the most storied fights of legend. Not a bad finish to a career.

Jack was not privledged with the careful development and management Louis and young Clay started with, and spent many years in the ring backwaters kicking around before Kearns shows an interest in him.

Dempsey retires at age 32, not stinking up the ring in his advancing years like so many greats, padding out his record against hamburger while ignoring the prime talents of his era. He didn't have to defend against Tunney, but he did.

Of course he is not beyond criticism, but he's the first truly exciting fighter in history in a dreary ND era of cobbled together matches in the face of sanctions against boxing that limit where and what kinds of bouts can be made. He easily transcended boxing, indeed, all of sports and was instrumental in ushering in the modern age.

[Squabbles94806]

Is it just me or was Dempsey actually moving his head? Yeah, that's cleaner technique than the usual Dempsey. I'll give it up to him.