Dempsey is treated harshly by revisionists. However a FULL understanding of the history of hwt champions up to and including Dempsey as well as the color line reveals the true picture.
1). The powers that be did not want any black man the opportunity to be the physical master of all men. HUGE sociological and phycological ramifications. Use your imagination. Those that controlled boxing and the nation did not want the Dempsey Wills bout to occur.
2). If you look back most of the prior hwt champions took their title on the road....exhibitions, plays, vaudeville. Milking the title as people would pay to see the hwt champion without risking the title itself. Dempsey went to Hollywood to perform in motion pictures. Same idea as the champions before him. You must look at his actions with the knowledge of those times and the precident set by earlier champions.
1). The powers that be did not want any black man the opportunity to be the physical master of all men. HUGE sociological and phycological ramifications. Use your imagination. Those that controlled boxing and the nation did not want the Dempsey Wills bout to occur.
2). If you look back most of the prior hwt champions took their title on the road....exhibitions, plays, vaudeville. Milking the title as people would pay to see the hwt champion without risking the title itself. Dempsey went to Hollywood to perform in motion pictures. Same idea as the champions before him. You must look at his actions with the knowledge of those times and the precident set by earlier champions.
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