By Sean McDaniel: If there’s a fighter that reminds me a lot of Jack Dempsey (61-6-9, 50 KO’s), it’s former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s). Both fighters were blessed with incredible power and an all out two-fisted attacking style.
Jack Dempsey
Famous Ring Wars – Dempsey vs Carpentier and the first million dollar gate
By John F. McKenna (McJack): The most amazing thing about the July 2, 1921 fight between heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey and his French challenger Georges Carpentier was not who won, but the amount of money that the live gate pulled in.
Manny Pacquiao and fighters who transcend boxing – Pt 1
By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s) who fights WBO and WBA lightweight champion Juan Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KO’s) on November 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas has transcended the sport of boxing.
Floyd Mayweather judged by different standard than Jack Dempsey
By John F. McKenna (McJack): New World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) has received a ton of criticism since his controversial 4th round KO win over Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s) last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Famous Ring Wars: Dempsey vs. Willard – pt 3
By John F. McKenna (McJack): The most remarkable thing about Willard was his gameness at continually getting up when all hope of victory was gone. The bell mercifully sounded ending the first round. In the pandemonium Dempsey thought the fight was over and hurriedly exited the ring in an effort to avoid the crowd which was now pressing in on him.
Famous Ring Wars: Dempsey vs. Willard – pt 2
By John F. McKenna (McJack): Sam Langford who fought Harry Wills eighteen times in his career was asked how Wills would do against Dempsey. Langford said in the June 5, 1922 Atlanta Constitution that if they ever fought his money would be on Dempsey. “He is the greatest fighter I have ever seen. He hits twice as hard as Jeffries and he is as fast in the ring as James J. Corbett.”
Famous Ring Wars: Dempsey vs. Willard – pt 1
By John F. McKenna (McJack): On July 4, 1919 in Toledo, Ohio in one hundred and ten degree heat a legend was born. In probably the most savage beating any fighter every received since the days of bare knuckle fighting ended, twenty four year old Jack Dempsey 6’1, 187 lbs, destroyed thirty seven year old Jess Willard to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World. In the opening round as the combatants approached each other it appeared for all the world like a modern day David and Goliath in the center of the ring.
Flashback: Jack Dempsey Profiled
By John F McKenna (McJack): Jack Dempsey was one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. He was also among the most beloved sports stars ever and truly a superstar in an era known as the “Golden Age of Sports”. His popularity in the 1920’s surpassed even that of baseball icon Babe Ruth. Jack was from Manassa, Colorado, hence his nickname the Manassa Mauler. Dempsey held the Heavyweight Championship from 1919 until 1926 and is considered by many boxing historians to be the most dynamic and exciting fighter ever to lace on a pair of boxing gloves. He had a kill or be killed mentality when in the ring, scowling and even growling as he moved in menacingly to destroy his opponents. Jack’s style of bobbing and weaving while moving in made him difficult to hit.
Jack Dempsey and the Three Most Destructive Minutes in Ring History
By Matt McGrain: In Toledo, Jack Dempsey was King. Leaving his corner and circling to his left, on his toes, his chin tucked in, leading with his left foot, just out of punching range, right hand high and slightly extended, left hand low – a loaded gun, we now know – Dempsey looks loose, showing near perfect form. He slips a couple of clumsy jabs and declines to contest the first clinch of the fight, stepping back, not really exerting himself until it is time to separate himself from his towering opponent, Jess Willard, who outweighs him by some 55lbs.
After the clinch, Dempsey bounces once to each side, just out of range, and appears to be looking Jess Willard in the eyes, not a habit for Dempsey because it was an amateurs habit, and Jack Dempsey was a professional. He circles right and takes a light, half-formed jab, then appears to over-feint, or shy away. Willard, the big dog in the fight, does what a big dog should do when faced with an elusive adversary who wants to snipe, waits, waits for his chance to bite in the hope that he will be able to take hold. Willard jabs again, twice more, reasonably authoritative punches, but something is different. Jack is still trying to slip and ride them, but is suddenly using his footwork to bounce straight back into the firing-range, back and down, then in on steel springs. In-fighting follows, Dempsey landing short hard punches to Willard’s midriff, the big man, who landed a decent one-two as Dempsey came in, punching only once and ineffectively.