Dempsey Wills lawsuit

[Ivich]

1926-In early 1926, Wills was offered $250,000 to fight Gene Tunney in a title eliminator, with the winner to meet the champion. Wills turned it down. Wills balked.

Ring Magazine annual ratings.

1924. Champion Dempsey. Wills at #2 at heavy, Tunney at #1 at light heavy
1925. Champion Dempsey. Wills #1 at heavy, Tunney #3 at heavy
1926. Tunney champion at heavy, Dempsey #2.

Wills had his chance for the fight with Tunney. He balked. He also avoided the top black heavyweight of the time in George Godfrey, so that's two ducks for Wills.

While Jack Johnson's antics and title reign made it tough for top-ranked black contenders, Wills blew chances by not risking more. Back in the 1920's there wasn't a huge size difference between light heavy and heavy.

Godfrey didn't make the top 3 until 1928, by which time Wills had been out of the ratings for 2 years,having been displaced by Sharkey and Uzcudun.
I don't believe Tunney had any real intention of fighting Wills. Wills and Paddy Mullins his manager had a strategy of resting on their laurels ,with hindsight , "to rest is to rust" and it obviously backfired on them.
Wills had earned his shot without further elimination fights,and should not have been fobbed off as he continually was.

There was not a huge wave of support behind a Dempsey v Wills fight,as Pollack's second volume on Dempsey shows ,Gibbons was generally favoured over him by the boxing press.

[Dr. Z]

Godfrey didn't make the top 3 until 1928, by which time Wills had been out of the ratings for 2 years,having been displaced by Sharkey and Uzcudun.
I don't believe Tunney had any real intention of fighting Wills. Wills and Paddy Mullins his manager had a strategy of resting on their laurels ,with hindsight , "to rest is to rust" and it obviously backfired on them.
Wills had earned his shot without further elimination fights,and should not have been fobbed off as he continually was.

There was not a huge wave of support behind a Dempsey v Wills fight,as Pollack's second volume on Dempsey shows ,Gibbons was generally favoured over him by the boxing press.

This does not change the fact that Godfrey was turned down by Wills several times. Pollack's book does not change the fact that Wills was not given a shot... before or after Gibbons, a 175 pound man, ran for 15 rounds vs . Dempsey.

" The **** of Shelby " as the fight was known bankrupt the town. It is reported that Gibbons received no money. Both fighters ran out of town. Who knows if Gibbons tanked it.

Oh Dempsey fought dirty. His hit Gibbons low did lots of rabbit punching.

Kearnes had a special condition written in the contract that allowed Dempsey to grab Gibbons with his left so he could punch him with the right.

Try watching the film one day.

No charge.

[Ivich]

This does not change the fact that Godfrey was turned down by Wills several times. Pollack's book does not change the fact that Wills was not given a shot... before or after Gibbons, a 175 pound man, ran for 15 rounds vs . Dempsey.

" The **** of Shelby " as the fight was known bankrupt the town. It is reported that Gibbons received no money. Both fighters ran out of town. Who knows if Gibbons tanked it.

Oh Dempsey fought dirty. His hit Gibbons low did lots of rabbit punching.




Try watching the film one day.

No charge.

I first saw this fight in1967.If you think there is a possibilty that Gibbons tanked this fight you really should not be watching fights.lol

[QueensburyRules]

Why do you always feel the need to cloud the issue with obvious bullcrap? Stick to actual facts.

- - The facts were that political authorities prevented Dempsey/Wills that eventually led to a lack of financial backers, but no shortage of Lawyers pounding each other for the scraps, now teensy scrounging for dingles..

There was no surplus of Gold Bullion in Saskatoon that Gold Barons used to lure Dempsey and JJ for a private fight held in the basement of the millionaire's mens club.

[Ivich]

- - The facts were that political authorities prevented Dempsey/Wills that eventually led to a lack of financial backers, but no shortage of Lawyers pounding each other for the scraps, now teensy scrounging for dingles..

There was no surplus of Gold Bullion in Saskatoon that Gold Barons used to lure Dempsey and JJ for a private fight held in the basement of the millionaire's mens club.

What was the name of the "Millionaire's Men's Club?"lol

[ShoulderRoll]

- - The facts were that political authorities prevented Dempsey/Wills that eventually led to a lack of financial backers, but no shortage of Lawyers pounding each other for the scraps, now teensy scrounging for dingles..

There was no surplus of Gold Bullion in Saskatoon that Gold Barons used to lure Dempsey and JJ for a private fight held in the basement of the millionaire's mens club.

The Dempsey vs Jack Johnson fight in Saskatoon has been debunked here before. It was a fictitious creation, part of a series of articles on fantasy fights.

https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/boxing-forums/boxing-history/30802903-jack-johnson-jack-dempsey-had-a-secret-fight-in-1921

[QueensburyRules]

The Dempsey vs Jack Johnson fight in Saskatoon has been debunked here before. It was a fictitious creation, part of a series of articles on fantasy fights.

https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/b...-fight-in-1921

- - Don't see the debunked part. Lew Eskin an honorable man, his bio snapshot here.

LEW ESKIN – New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame (njboxinghof.org)

For the story to be debunked, it would have to be proven that he and Dempsey never had the convo that he printed.

More in the realm of can't be proven yea or nay. That Dempsey/Wills signed to fight under favorable conditions is without question.

The reason the fights never came off is also without question save for the flat earthers.

[ShoulderRoll]

- - Don't see the debunked part. Lew Eskin an honorable man, his bio snapshot here.

LEW ESKIN – New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame (njboxinghof.org)

For the story to be debunked, it would have to be proven that he and Dempsey never had the convo that he printed.

More in the realm of can't be proven yea or nay. That Dempsey/Wills signed to fight under favorable conditions is without question.

The reason the fights never came off is also without question save for the flat earthers.

Finally we get to the most damning piece of evidence, Ray never passed the fight off as an actual fight. At the end of the Chicago Tribune original the article reads:

"This is the first of a series of articles by Ray Pearson describing mythical battles between present day champions and those of a decade or more ago."

[QueensburyRules]

Finally we get to the most damning piece of evidence, Ray never passed the fight off as an actual fight. At the end of the Chicago Tribune original the article reads:

"This is the first of a series of articles by Ray Pearson describing mythical battles between present day champions and those of a decade or more ago."

- - Ray Pearson penned several notable fantasy fights. Never seen his Dempsey/Wills nor the date of that article, but do have a copy of Lew Eskin's Dempsey/Wills supposedly out of the Brooklyn Eagle in the very moment of the fight.

Looks like you finally got some honorable work to do.

[Ivich]

- - Ray Pearson penned several notable fantasy fights. Never seen his Dempsey/Wills nor the date of that article, but do have a copy of Lew Eskin's Dempsey/Wills supposedly out of the Brooklyn Eagle in the very moment of the fight.

Looks like you finally got some honorable work to do.

The date Pearson said the fight happened with Johnson ,Dempsey was on the stage in Scranton.Pearson stated as an appendix to the article it was a fictitious matchup, the first of a series of many.No gold strike in Saskastoon that year,no " Millionaires Club"
neither Johnson,Dempsey ,or Kearns were in Canada that year. But WTF, why not keep repeating BS ad nauseum? It's what you usually do!