Is Jack Dempsey Overrated?

[GJC]

That's true, but I don't think you can just excuse it in terms of all-time rankings because of the era. Fighters nowadays are unlikely to reach the rankings of fighters like Robinson or Charles, and the big reason is resume. That's the era too, a WW champ considered the best fighter in the sport is not going to fight over a dozen times a year because he'll make enough money with 2 or 3 fights.

I don't expect fighters nowadays to have 150+ fights but if they wish to be compared against some of the champions of previous years they do need to try and clear out their division or at least beat the toughest opponent/s in that division.

[CarlosG815]

It was Dempsey's camp who insisted on enforcement of the states neutral corner rule, and a rule is a rule. Would you have gotten up before you heard eight or nine? I wouldn't have. Would you have gotten up with Dempsey hovering over you, when he should be in a neutral corner? I wouldn't have.

Tunny won the fight fair and square. The rules have to apply to Dempsey same as any other fighter.

I'm aware it was his camp who asked for it but when Tunney knocked Dempsey down, Tunney did not go to a neutral corner and the ref began to count immediately.

[EzzardFan]

I'm aware it was his camp who asked for it but when Tunney knocked Dempsey down, Tunney did not go to a neutral corner and the ref began to count immediately.

YEah but Dempsey just got straight back up, he could have refused to do so until Tunny went to his corner and then also receieved a long count,

[CarlosG815]

YEah but Dempsey just got straight back up, he could have refused to do so until Tunny went to his corner and then also receieved a long count,

I just went and watched it, I hadn't seen this in a very long time. I was mistaken as Tunney didn't even score a knockdown over Depmsey after the long count and won an easy decision.

I did notice though that Dempsey DID go to a corner it just wasn't the right one giving Tunney an extra 5 seconds.

However, it was pretty clear to me that Tunney wasn't shook up and he could have gotten up at anytime he was just milking his ten count once he realized the ref had just started counting.

Legit win for Tunney, my mistake!!

[mickey malone]

I just went and watched it, I hadn't seen this in a very long time. I was mistaken as Tunney didn't even score a knockdown over Depmsey after the long count and won an easy decision.

I did notice though that Dempsey DID go to a corner it just wasn't the right one giving Tunney an extra 5 seconds.

However, it was pretty clear to me that Tunney wasn't shook up and he could have gotten up at anytime he was just milking his ten count once he realized the ref had just started counting.

Legit win for Tunney, my mistake!!

Out of 30 rounds of boxing, how many rounds did Dempsey win?..

Two or three would be exceedingly generous..

[CarlosG815]

Out of 30 rounds of boxing, how many rounds did Dempsey win?..

Two or three would be exceedingly generous..

He was totally outmatched by a better boxer.

[Poet682006]

He was totally outmatched by a better boxer.

To be fair though Dempsey was past-prime and mostly inactive at that point. Would Tunney have outboxed a prime and active Dempsey? It would make for an interesting discussion.

Poet

[CarlosG815]

To be fair though Dempsey was past-prime and mostly inactive at that point. Would Tunney have outboxed a prime and active Dempsey? It would make for an interesting discussion.

Poet

I think he would. Tunney was a slickster, very hard to hit, even for a guy like Dempsey. Based on those 2 fights I think it's fair to say that Dempsey at any point in his career would struggle with Tunney. It was just a bad matchup for him. I think he was only 30 or 31. Yes he was at the end of his career but he still looked like himself to me. Tunney was just too slick.

[Poet682006]

I think he would. Tunney was a slickster, very hard to hit, even for a guy like Dempsey. Based on those 2 fights I think it's fair to say that Dempsey at any point in his career would struggle with Tunney. It was just a bad matchup for him. I think he was only 30 or 31. Yes he was at the end of his career but he still looked like himself to me. Tunney was just too slick.

It's not so much age that defines a fighter's prime but rather when his reflexes start to slide. Some fighters are washed up by their early 20s, some carry their primes into their early 30s. I don't think I've seen a fighter carry their reflexes with them past their mid 30s though.

Poet

[CarlosG815]

It's not so much age that defines a fighter's prime but rather when his reflexes start to slide. Some fighters are washed up by their early 20s, some carry their primes into their early 30s. I don't think I've seen a fighter carry their reflexes with them past their mid 30s though.

Poet

I agree with the age argument as a boxers boxing age and birth age can be very different - I use that argument all the time, but in Dempsey's case I think he was very capable of beating anybody at the time he fought Tunney except for Tunney.

Tunney just had his number.