Lewis, overated or a true Heavyweight great?

[whdempsey]

For some reason I can't quote Jose to discredit him one last time, but I just wanted to say that he was inactive becaue Doc Kearns sent him on a Vaudeville circuit, and it wasn't until they split ways that Dempsey finally tried to defend his title one last time. Unfortunately, Tex Rickard chose to match him up against Tunney, instead of letting the fight with Wills take place. Anyway, I'm not gonna get into a pissing contest with you, Jose, cuz frankly I just think you're a ****.

[Sir_Jose]

Oh looky looky I hit a nerve.

Dempsey shamelessy avoided black fighters and anyone who tries to deny this is just making himself look foolish. He was inactive cause he didn't want to fight black fighters. Its well known Dempsey never told Rickard that he wanted to fight black fighters. Dempsey was arguably the most powerfull man in sports at the time and if he wanted to fight a black fighter it could have easily been made.


http://www.secondsout.com/USA/colhir...cs=212&cs=3963

yup conversations over.

wow I guess now would be the time where go running and screaming that you got ****d huh.

[Silverfox]

Floyd Paterson?? You have to be kidding....A scared rabbit he was! Does anyone remember the Lewis/McCall return fight? McCall was obviously under instructions from Don King to throw the fight. He was actually weeping in frustration...getting hit from all angles without either hitting back or going down. The first time that he beat Lewis, it was no fluke!
Lewis was very good, but not great. Had he fought Corrie Sanders 3/4 years ago, he would have been obliterated. That's why he ducked him.

[hollister]

You're basing your "He was inactive because he was afraid of black fighters" theory on one fight that didn't happen? That's just ****ing ******. I'll not argue that he should have fought more often, much more often, but to build your case around that one fight is no more than a blatently racist attempt at discrediting a fighter you don't like. He fought black fighters, and you know that if you know anything about Jack Dempsey. The person who wrote that article was just trying to advocate mandatory fights, totally ignoring the fact that boxing sanctions can be bought, fighters' ratings lowered or raised, and voila, everything is the ****ing same! The problems with ducking fighters that existed long ago still do! That **** didn't fix a damn thing. You really shouldn't lower yourself to these kinds of posts, no wonder you hate the Klits too, they're just too damn white to fit your taste.

[whdempsey]

You silly little man. Watch me prove my point by quoting the same source you said proved me wrong:

"In the 1920’s, heavyweight Harry Wills had established himself as the number one contender for Jack Dempsey’s title. Because of the controversial title reign of Jack Johnson the decade before, Dempsey’s promoter Tex Rickard did not feel the public was ready for another black heavyweight champion. Therefore, Rickard did not allow Dempsey to box Wills. Dempsey would have fought Wills had Rickard put the match together, but never pressed the issue. Eventually reporters took up Wills’ cause. This indirectly led to Dempsey being banned from boxing Gene Tunney in New York. As a result, the two Dempsey vs Tunney fights took place in Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. Had mandatory challenges been in effect, there is no doubt that Dempsey would have fought Wills."

Next time, try reading the whole damn article.

Plus, to say that Jack Dempsey was the most powerful man in boxing is absurd. He was disliked by patrons, who all came to see him be beaten, and Doc Kearns moved his career expertly. Dempsey had NO CONTROL over who he fought. At least, not with Kearns. That's why they split up in 1926. The reason he never fought Wills is that he felt he had proven himself over bigger, stronger fighters. He had no cause to go after Wills, and Rickard told him to fight Tunney. That's what happened. You ****** little ****.

[whdempsey]

By the way, the key parts of that quote are where the writer says, "RICKARD DID NOT [****ING] LET DEMPSEY FIGHT WILLS. DEMPSEY WOULD HAVE FOUGht WILLS HAD RICKARD PUT THE MATCH TOGETHER, BUT HE NEVER PRESSED THE ISSUE."

I will concede one point. Early in his title reign, Dempsey was quoted as saying, "I will pay no attention to negro challengers." See the funny thing is, that sounds exactly like another champion and his name is... right on the tip of my tongue, oh, who IS that guy? Oh, that's right, Jack-****ing-Johnson. Champs did not fight black fighters cuz the money wasn't there. You'd know that if you read his biography or looked at his record. As I said before, he fought more black guys as a contender than any other challenger of that era. Don't **** with me boy.

[acquitted]

lennox lewis is underrated...ali is overrated

[Sir_Jose]

I will concede one point. Early in his title reign, Dempsey was quoted as saying, "I will pay no attention to negro challengers."

Yes I see no reason why I should "**** with you" considering you seem to like proving yourself wrong instead of having others do it.

This was easier than I though.

Oh of course Demspey had to no controll I mean why would anyone think that??*rolleyes*

Its obvious you have a raging hardon for Jack Dempsey

[dansweeney]

what is this argument about? he would have kicked the black fighters asses too, who do you think was waiting to challenge him Mike Tyson's grandfather? i dont think so, look at film of dempsey destroying jess willard and tell me he was afraid of black fighters. if anything he was racist, never scared

[hollister]

But the thing is, an overrated Ali would have beaten an underrated Lewis into retirement, period.