Why was Dempsey afraid of Negroes?

[jack_the_rippuh]

Why?

[Bombardier]

Because everyone was in those days, sadly.

[jabsRstiff]

Why?

Because he knew he'd lose to one of them.

[Bombardier]

Because he knew he'd lose to one of them.

Wills had a shot at him, maybe Langford, but he was quite old by then. I'd be willing to bet he'd have beaten both of them in his prime, though.

[jabsRstiff]

Wills had a shot at him, maybe Langford, but he was quite old by then. I'd be willing to bet he'd have beaten both of them in his prime, though.

I actually agree....but he obviously didn't want to chance it.
I'm sure it would have been a "disgrace" to lose his crown to a black man.

[Bombardier]

I actually agree....but he obviously didn't want to chance it.
I'm sure it would have been a "disgrace" to lose his crown to a black man.

Yes, after Jack Johnson no white champ wanted to be the guy who lost the crown back to a black challenger yet again, so if a black fighter had even a remote chance of winning they wouldn't get their shot.

I'm sure if Dempsey had absolutely demanded it his handlers could have arranged a fight with Wills, or whoever. However this would have required him to be a lot more enlightened than most people were in that day and age, including most "educated" people.

[LondonRingRules]

Why?

Why ask why when you never explained when you stop beating your mother? For shame!

[Da Iceman]

because any prime black fighter would whoop his racist ass

[mECHsLAVE]

Dempsey was a cash cow and didn't pick his fights. During his heyday he could fight anyone and make a mint, and after Johnson, nobody wanted a black HW champ, so he was encouraged to not fight blacks.

Johnson, actually, was as bad as any white champ, though. Jack Johnson absolutely refused to fight black fighters once he got to the top, so he should be criticized as much as Dempsey or any other fighter who didn't fight blacks.

Chris Byrd is doing that in reverse lately. He could have made more money fighting Lyakovich or Wladimir in '05, and both fights were gift-wrapped delivered to him to sign at different times, and all while being perfectly healthy, he refused them both to make less money fighting Williamson.

[Da Iceman]

The reason is Tex Rickards, the guy controlled alot back then and did not wish for the event to take place. It was not Dempseys choice.

Rockin'

if it was i bet he still wouldnt fight a black once he was on top