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Interesting that the lawsuit brought against Dempsey by the Chicago consortium in 1930 was won by Dempsey when he challenged Wills to fight right now. The judge asked the jury to bring in a verdict for Dempsey and the plaintiffs agreed to Dempseys proposal. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...lls&y=10&x=27&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
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I see nothing regarding a Dempsey Wills bout until two years after the trial. Dempsey is now fully retired from boxing and now concentrating on promoting. Wills stated Rickard never wanted to match him with Dempsey fearing the aftermath. (Johnson vsJeffries).
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...ills&y=4&x=12&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
mrbig1
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I had read once that Dempsey's courtroom offer to 'fight Wills right now' was done in play and brought chuckles from the judge, the court spectators, and Wills' people.
Never meant to be, just fun for the newspaper boys.
Wills was finished in 1926 (Sharkey), and Dempsey was smart enough to turn down a third try at Tunney because he knew he was finished by 1927.
If they were even considering it, envision Tyson-Jones, not Wills-Dempsey in 1922.
1922! That's when it should have happened. It would have been a great fight, it would have been great for the fight game. A 1933 fight would have been a farce.
Slugfester
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Yes but the article shows that the lawsuit was brought to an end and the judgement was for Dempsey. This was based upon the plaintiff ACCEPTING Dempseys offer to fight Wills now (1931).Originally posted by Willie Pep 229 View Post
I’ve read multiple accounts of Dempseys offer during the trial. None of which indicated the offer was not serious. The judge ended the trial in Dempseys favor because of the offer and acceptance.
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Dempsey and Wills signed to fight three times in 1922, 1925 and 1926.Comment
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Dempsey lost the suit. He had breached the contract he signed in 1926.Originally posted by HOUDINI563 View Post
This was the only time he actually signed. The 1922 promises never got to final signatures.
1925 was the 'bounced check' mess with Fitzsimmons.
The 1926 signing was built off that early effort.
Dempsey lost. But was only ordered to pay $1500 to the plaintiff. (I just made up that number, but it was definitely less than $2000.)
The reason Dempsey got off lightly was because he had publicly breached the contract in early July 1926. This meant he could only be held libel for monies the plaintiff had spent up to that time.
The judge ruled that it was impossible for the plaintiff to claim a loss (damages) from a prize fight that never happened, so no $500,000 was in play. Just some early expenditures by the plaintiff.
I never read anything about Dempsey winning the suit because he made an honest jester to fight Wills in 1931.
I will definitely read it if you got something to read. Seriously, anything you got please post. I'm an interested party.Last edited by Willie Pep 229; 12-16-2023, 10:13 PM.Comment
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Dempsey won the lawsuit but lost the appeal. You can find the appellate judge reversal of the original verdict on line.
The snippets I posted state the judge stopped the trial based upon the plaintiffs accepting Dempseys offer. How much more clear cut can it be written?Comment
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From the very end of the appellate judges opinion:
For the reasons stated in this opinion the judgment of the circuit court is REVERSED and the cause remanded for a new trial.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
HEBEL, P. J., and FRIEND, J., concur.
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This is the appellate judges reversal in 1932 of the lawsuit settled in 1931.
https://casetext.com/case/chicago-co...club-v-dempseyComment
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