Why does anyone thing Dempey was one of the greatest? Why did the let him be champ for 3 years with no defense

Question

Look at his record on boxrec or on wikipedia... he was nothing special.

Answer 1

Because he was and still is. PS you spell like a punch drunk.

Answer 2

Dempsey was a product of his era. Back then boxing was as much of a show as, well boxing. Just kidding. The major metropolitan areas back then where few and far between and the traveling wasn't as easy as it is today. This meant Jack Dempsey had to put on his circus shows just to make money. You can only fight in Chicago so many times with so many fighters before it becomes happenstance in that town. Think about it, if today all a fighter did was fight in Las Vegas(which they mostly do) but you weren't able to see any of the fights, pay per view, or highlights on sportscenter wouldn't you eventually want to see this guy you've been hearing about, the champion in person? The answer is yes you would. So the man struck while the iron was hot and traveled when he could draw a crowd. Houdini did the same thing in almost the same time period. He had people who wanted to see him so he went to them, it's easier for one man to go to thousands than it is for tens of thousands to go see one man.

As far as the record goes, same thing with the era. The fights weren't the same. Exhibition fights were the norm. He didn't fight once a year, he fought 10 - 20 times a year. According to your Wikipedia link, he fought 17 times in 1918 winning 15, losing 1, and had a no decision. In 1919, he won 5 fights with a first round KO. Do you think his fans liked that or disliked that similar to what Tyson fans went through?

Answer 3

good question, also noticed he was knocked out by fireman jim flynn 10 seconds into the first rd so imagine what the games hardest hitters would have done to him such as foreman tyson liston, even after winning the title he was not active for the era fighting only about once a yr, the 3 yr layoff must have been a factor when trying to deal with a slick gene tunney.as far as to the inactivity he fought in 1923 thereafter he had marriage difficulties and a dispute with his manager a fight with harry wills was planned in new york in 1924 but cancelled with it not commonly known by who or whom ie dempsey fearing wills talent or the world not ready for another black heavyweight champion.before he got his personal life in order and through the cancelation it was 1926 for his fight with tunney.

Answer 4

he was a wild puncher...i saw him many times in action...he was a big puncher but i remember him fighting Jack Sharkey a Sharkey beated him all around the ring until Dempsey hit him pretty low and ko him out thanks to the blind ref..Sharkey was a lot better that day..