What would be BOXING's Mt. Rushmore??

[A-Wolf]

Being an icon and more popular doesn't mean you're more famous. Especially back in those days. Everyone would have known Johnson too, he was just hated instead of loved.

Huh? Ok.

More people knew who Jack Dempsey was.

Maybe you should look into it. This isn't even close.

[GhostofDempsey]

Dempsey, Robinson, Ali, Duran.

[LockardTheGOAT]

It's Ali, Robinson, Leonard, and Mayweather.

[GhostofDempsey]

Huh? Ok.

More people knew who Jack Dempsey was.

Maybe you should look into it. This isn't even close.

You are making too much sense for the race-obsessed casuals.

[Robbie Barrett]

Huh? Ok.

More people knew who Jack Dempsey was.

Maybe you should look into it. This isn't even close.

How do you know this? You don't. You're basing it on him being more celebrated.

[Robbie Barrett]

You are making too much sense for the race-obsessed casuals.

Race obsessed? How can you discuss Jack Johnsons fame and popularity without race being involved?

[GhostofDempsey]

Race obsessed? How can you discuss Jack Johnsons fame and popularity without race being involved?

He got his ass beat by Jess Willard. Dempsey crushed Willard. Dempsey also launched boxing into the mainstream and catapulted its popularity around the world. He was a polarizing figure and boxing rivaled baseball during the 1920s, Dempsey was as big as Babe Ruth. He paved the way for future greats like Louis and Robinson.

[Robbie Barrett]

Johnson being close if not as famous as Dempsey and revolutionising technical boxing puts him ahead of Dempsey for me.

[A-Wolf]

How do you know this? You don't. You're basing it on him being more celebrated.

How do I know this? Because I've read countless books and viewed many, many hours of programming from various periods of history including prewar America. I'm also old enough to remember in my own lifetime the old timers talking about Jack Dempsey, Babe Ruth, Jessie Owens, Joe Louis, Johnny Unitas, Jim Thorpe, Ty Cobb and all the true legends of American sport.

You do realize that Jack Johnson was essentially "re-unearthed" with 'Unforgivable Blackness?' Yes?

Most people for a long time didn't know who the **** he was outside of Bert Sugar and boxing fans and historians. He was an underappreciated footnote as the first African American Heavyweight champ but nowhere near what he is now that he was reintroduced into popular culture as an important figure in the pre Civil Rights era.

[A-Wolf]

He got his ass beat by Jess Willard. Dempsey crushed Willard. Dempsey also launched boxing into the mainstream and catapulted its popularity around the world. He was a polarizing figure and boxing rivaled baseball during the 1920s, Dempsey was as big as Babe Ruth. He paved the way for future greats like Louis and Robinson.

^^^^^^^^^^

School is in session.