In time he would become a legend. In the age of the roaring 20s one sports hero lived as both a gallant warrior and a worshipped celebrity. He was the perfect folk hero. Jack Dempsey: Boxer-Actor, ESPN
In January 1950 Jack was voted the greatest prize fighter of the half-century in a nationwide poll of sports writers and commentary ... One of the most celebrated Heavyweights of all time ... Very few achieve the popularity of the Manassa Mauler. ibid.
Dempsey: it has the ring of history. Of Americana. Of a gaudy era that will probably never come this way again. Jim Murray
Honey, I just forgot to duck. Jack Dempsey
A champion owes everybody something. He can never pay back for all the help he got, for making him an idol. Jack Dempsey
Tall men come down to my height when I hit ’em in the body. Jack Dempsey
67) Jess Willard TKO3: Kings of the Ring TV - Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor! TV -
4 July 1919 Dempsey v Willard: Willard had held the title for four years. He entered the ring an overweight 245 pounds, 60 pounds heavier than Dempsey. In the first round and for the first time in his 8-year career Jess Willard was knocked to the canvas. He went down 6 more times in the first round alone. Kings of the Ring, BBC 1995
v Jess Willard 4th July 1919: Toledo Ohio Heavyweight: [r1] ... The fight starts calmly but keep an eye on Dempsey. Although outweighed by almost 80 pounds he has bet $10,000 at 10/1 odds he will knock the champion out in the first round ... Willard is down ... Willard goes down for what proves the second of seven knockdowns ... The champion staggers across the ring ... Dempsey leaves the ring ... Meanwhile Willard’s handlers attend to him ... Jack, come back! Jack, come back! [r4] ... Willard’s handlers insist he not answer the fourth round bell. Jack Dempsey: Boxer-Actor! ESPN
70) George Carpentier KO4: George Carpentier - Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor TV -
On the day before the fight it rained in torrents but on the day itself the sun was shining again and it was hotter than ever, despite the rain. Encouraging reports came in from New Jersey: the 120,000 seats in the vast timber stands which had been specially constructed for the fight would certainly all be occupied. George Carpentier, In the Ring with Jack Dempsey
I had hoped that Dempsey, in accordance with his temperament as a fierce mixer, would adopt his customary tactics and go for me at once. In view of his enormous advantage in reach and weight I hoped to be able to box with counter punches and exploit any opening that might arise. But Dempsey did nothing of the sort. ibid.
At the moment of impact a terrible pain shot through my right thumb and caused me to lose that second or two which gave Dempsey the chance to recover and raise his guard again. Subsequent examination of my thumb revealed a double fracture. ibid.
It didn’t take Dempsey long to notice there was something seriously wrong with my right hand. ibid.
He was an honourable fellow to his finger-tips. ibid.
Thousands of people had come there to welcome me home. ibid.
v Georges Carpentier 2nd July 1921 New Jersey: The Carpentier-Dempsey fight was the social event of 1921 ... Carpentier gets home with his potent left hand ... Carpentier is down ... Two more punches and Carpentier is down again. commentary, Jack Dempsey: Boxer-Actor! ESPN
71) Tommy Gibbons Points 15: US Fight Commentary TV - Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor TV -
v Tommy Gibbons 4th July 1923 Shelby Montana: Watch Jack attack again with more bone-crunching punches ... Gibbons finds himself half way out of the ring ... US fight commentary
Jack retains his title by a clear-cut decision. Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor! ESPN
72) Luis Firpo KO2: Jack and Barbara Dempsey - Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor! TV -
Firpo worked out at the same dog track in Atlantic City that I had used to train for Georges Carpentier. He wasn’t too cooperative with the press; he didn’t want pictures taken, he hated being interviewed, he insulted various members of the corps. He even insisted he be paid for his training session ... It was obvious that money wasn’t the number one priority in Firpo’s life: food, on the other hand, food was. Even sports writers, who had by this time seen just about everything, were absolutely flabbergasted by the quantities he would pack away. He would stuff himself to bursting point, pause, ask for more, and then drop off to sleep. Jack and Barbara Dempsey, The Wild Bull of the Pampas
I never saw Firpo in the ring again. I remember reading his words in the The New York Times of 14 September 1923:
‘I’m not sore about not winning the Dempsey fight. It was just one of those things. My regular manager Jimmy de Forest wasn’t in my corner because he was a friend of Dempsey’s. And my handlers didn’t protest about the fouls or the time Dempsey was out of the ring. But I don’t think it would have made any difference. Damon Runyon and a few other fighters said I really won the fight and I think I did, too, but that’s all over now.’ ibid.
v Luis Firpo 14th September 1923 Polo Grounds New York: One of the most bizarre fights in Heavyweight history ... With two savage brawlers in there everyone expects lighting to strike. And they are not to be disappointed ... Jack Dempsey tastes blood and as usual he wants to end it here and now ... Firpo is down again, but still the champion does not dream that in the next two minutes he would be locked in one of the most unbelievable see-saw contests ... Dempsey seems to be having it all his way as Firpo is down again ... A blunderbust right catches the champion coming in ... Dempsey charges in for the kill ... Eight, nine, ten and out! Jack Dempsey: Boxer/Actor! fight commentary ESPN
73) Gene Tunney Lost UD 10: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Gene Tunney I 105,000 est. 23rd September 1926 Chicago [r1] ... It’s starting to rain but the fight is going to continue ... Dempsey hasn’t fought for three years ... [r6] ... Dempsey always moving forward. Bobbing. Weaving. Trying to get one good poke at Tunney ... [r10] ... Jack is desperate. He is way behind. He knows his only chance to keep the title now is by a knockout ... Here in the tenth round he is pretty well used up ... [r15] ... Tunney the winner by unanimous decision. US fight commentary
74) Jack Sharkey KO7: Randy Roberts -
Ring authorities agreed that in all probability Sharkey, who was only 28, would defeat Dempsey. Even more telling, professional gamblers made Sharkey anywhere from a two-to-one to a seven-to-five favourite. Randy Roberts, It’s All in the Game
Sharkey was an excellent boxer, undoubtedly good enough to outbox Dempsey as Tunney had done, but unlike Tunney, Sharkey fought emotionally; he was excited by a large cheering crowd and determined to win with a knockout. Thus from the opening bell, Sharkey forced the fight. ibid.
To James P Dawson, the leading Times reporter at the fight, Dempsey looked ‘slow and awkward, cumbersome, stiff and has not a remnant of his former fighting speed and agility left.’ ibid.
There was no doubt, however, about what happened next. Sharkey grabbed his groin and started to launch a verbal protest against Dempsey’s punches. As his eyes turned toward the direction of O’Sullivan and his mouth opened, Dempsey hit Sharkey with a perfectly timed left hook that travelled only about 12 inches. But every ounce of Dempsey’s shifting weight was behind the punch. Justifying the punch later, Dempsey said: ‘What was I going to do – write him a letter?’ ibid.
75) Gene Tunney Lost UD 10: US Fight Commentary TV
v Gene Tunney II 22nd September 1927 Chicago Heavyweight – The Long Count (billed as Battle of the Ages) [r1] ... Over 100,000 fans here in Soldier Field tonight; the biggest crowd in boxing history [r7] ... A lot depends on Dempsey’s lefts tonight; Tunney is much faster than Dempsey. Tunney is down. Referee Dave Barry motions Dempsey to a neutral corner. Count of nine – Tunney is up … US fight commentary
[8.6] Jersey Joe Walcott 71-51(32)-18-2 [Heavyweight]: Rocky Marciano - Joe Louis
The night that I fought you I believed you were the greatest. Your punches were strong and powerful. You were moving around so good. Rocky Marciano, The Main Event interview
In round one, Walcott hit me with a bunch of left jabs and hook right away. When I pressed forward, Walcott stopped dancing long enough and hit me with a solid right to my jaw and floored me for a two count. I lost my head then, and I tried to take him out with lefts and rights, but Walcott ran away. Joe Louis with Edna & Art Rust, A Hell of a Way to End the Year
Ezzard Charles I Lost Points 15: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Ezzard Charles I 7th March 1951 Detroit: [r9] ... Walcott seems to go right into that left hook. Notice the glazed expression in the eyes of Jersey Joe ... [r15] ... Two magnificent fighters giving it all they have. Ezzard Charles won a unanimous decision. US fight commentary