Why was Dempsey afraid of Negroes?

[whdempsey]

Why?

He wasn't. Jack Kearn and Tex Rickard were. Yes, I like everyone else, have read the old quote in which he says he will never give a black man a title shot, but by the end of his reign, he had signed to fight Harry Wills. Rickard cancelled that fight and signed the first Tunney fight instead. Friends like these, huh?

The truth is, though, no one wanted to see a black heavyweight champion. Jack Johnson was the only reference anyone had for black champions, and although he was treated unfairly when he was prosecuted for sleeping with his wife, it's also true that he was a very flamboyant, pugnacious prick. In light of that, defending the title against a black man didn't make business sense. Although it's arguable, I think the fact that he chose to sign against Harry Wills says a lot about how far he came.

And don't forget, he fought black fighters on his way up.

[whdempsey]

because any prime black fighter would whoop his racist ass

I ****in hate posters like you. What is for the most part an intelligent conversation has been torn down by you ignorance. Don't try flaming me, either. I don't have the time for it.

[whdempsey]

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.

Nah, he would have beaten Wills. Wills was perfect for him, big, slow, hard-hitting counter puncher. Like Fred Fulton. Wills would have been outta there quickly.

Langford on the other hand, really would have had a serious chance of beating him. Although he was less of a mover than Tunney, they're both the wrong type of fighter for Dempsey to take, i.e., one who's not slower than him.

[Verstyle]

cause he knew what would happen.

[Super_Lightweight]

hmm

Part of it was fear, but more than one kind of fear. There was the genuine fear that they'd lose to a black man, and then the fear of white superiority being threatened by having the title held by a black men, which would be a slap in the face of the white establishment.

P.S. Whoever it was that said Jack Johnson should be criticized as much as whites for not giving blakcs title shots is wrong. Johnson was in a position to make what he saw as a neccesary political move, and he did so. It didn't have anything to do with fear of getting beat by a black man or having a black champ as it did with whites.

[LondonRingRules]

Nah, he would have beaten Wills. Wills was perfect for him, big, slow, hard-hitting counter puncher. Like Fred Fulton. Wills would have been outta there quickly.

Langford on the other hand, really would have had a serious chance of beating him. Although he was less of a mover than Tunney, they're both the wrong type of fighter for Dempsey to take, i.e., one who's not slower than him.

**Langford was half blind and on the tail end of his career when Dempsey won the title. Sam was in his prime during the Johnson and Willard years. Wills was prime for Jack and true, Jack left his promoter and manager to sign against Wills, a very brave thing since they controlled most of the heavyweight division. Dempsey was unable to make a fight until 3 yrs later when his contract with Kearns expired and he fought Tunney in a Rickard promotion.

Jack had a lot of fondness for Sam and doubtless slipped him some extra money after he retired. He would always say that Sam was too tough for him and woulda whooped him. He was always very generous about other fighters, like saying Louis and Rocky had more power than him, stuff like that.

[LondonRingRules]

==========P.S. Whoever it was that said Jack Johnson should be criticized as much as whites for not giving blakcs title shots is wrong. Johnson was in a position to make what he saw as a neccesary political move, and he did so. It didn't have anything to do with fear of getting beat by a black man or having a black champ as it did with whites.====================

** Johnson was in tremendous position to fight Langford or Jeannette in America because he was self managed. Moreover Johnson was friends with the greatest black promoters of the day, Rube Foster being the most prominent. Johnson played in baseball games with and for Rube, and put on boxing exhibitions between games.

Langford, Jeannette, and Wills were offered to Johnson by promoters when he had fled to Europe. He instead fought Moran and Battling Johnson instead for much less money. The Battling Johnson bout was the most pitiful heavyweight title fight in history. It'd have been like if Ruiz fought Kimmuel Odum for the title and was lucky to get a draw.

Johnson was afraid of being beat by those fighters plain and simple, especially Langford who was an absolute terror in those days.

[Mike Tyson Jr.]

Why?

that racist knew his ass would have
been beat down if he would fight a
black man.

[Super_Lightweight]

hmm

Johnson was afraid of being beat by those fighters plain and simple, especially Langford who was an absolute terror in those days.

He had beaten most of the black guys before anyway. Like I said, it was a statement to the white community. It did not have to do with fear. Surely you don't believe that BS.

[BLOODSHED]

It didn't have to do with fear? Come on now.

He had beaten most of the black guys before anyway. Like I said, it was a statement to the white community. It did not have to do with fear. Surely you don't believe that BS.