Originally posted by travestyny
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1931, what some crusty ol'timer 4 rounder?
Wills quit in 1929 and Dempsey in 1927 after his Tunney rematch. Wills came back against 3 novice fighters while Dempsey came back for a year long series of more than a dozen or so exhibitions across the US to see if he wanted to challenge for a title. He made his $$$ and preferred to develop Baer.
Had he turned full pro instead, he's in the queue with young developing Joe Louis, not ancient Wills.
Told you, the best and biggest fight offer for Dempsey vs Wills was the year after KOing Willard, wealthy Playwright Harry Frazee offered $300 guaranteed with Boston Stadium as Venue, but local politicians killed it. The next year Frazee lined up the new Yankee stadium, but NY pols killed the bout.
No venue = no fight and no decent finances though Dempsey sunk some of his Hollywood $$$ into it...duh.
Neither Dempsey nor Wills can be faulted any more than AJ today can be faulted for light in the loafers Deyonce and Blubber preferring peanuts to fight each other to a King's Ransom that AJ offered.
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