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JACK DEMPSEY
Jack Dempsey, colorful American boxer, was the Heavyweight Champion of the World from 1919 to 1926. Dubbed the "Manassa Mauler" by writer Damon Runyon, Dempsey’s power lay in his lightning quick, devastating punches thrown with either hand. His offensive fighting style, along with swift bobbing and weaving movements, made it difficult for opponents to land punches. Dempsey’s phenomenal record speaks for itself: Won 60; Lost 6; Drew 8 (tie or equal points); No Decision 6. (There were no judges to score a fight in early boxing; if a fight lasted the full time, it was called a draw or no decision.) 50 of Dempsey’s wins were by boxing knockout (KO), 25 of them in the first round, with one in 14 seconds. Many of his fights set attendance and financial records during the Roaring Twenties, including the first million-dollar gate in the Carpentier bout. Jack Dempsey was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980 and into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (Harry) was born on June 24, 1895, in Manassa, Colorado to sharecropping and mining parents of mixed Irish and Choctaw Indian heritage. Since the family was poor, Harry began working on a farm when he was eight. Determined to make a better life for himself, Dempsey left home in 1911 at age 16. He tied himself to rods underneath freight trains, traveling with hobos and sleeping in their camps. Early jobs included mining, cutting timber, and picking crops. Harry, calling himself Kid Blackie, challenged men in saloons to fight for "hat" money. Dempsey began professional boxing in 1914 at the age of 19. In 1916, Harry married Maxine Cates, a saloon piano player and singer, ten years his senior. Dempsey’s older brother, Bernie, had taught him the basics of boxing. Bernie boxed using the name of deceased former Middleweight Champion, Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey. When Harry was 19, he substituted one night for Bernie who was sick. Introduced as boxer Jack Dempsey, he retained the name. Jack and Maxine divorced in 1919.
After 21 first round knockouts, Jack Dempsey was matched against World Heavyweight Champion, Jess Willard, 6' 6½," 245 lbs. Dempsey, 6' 1," 187 lbs., looked about half Willard’s size; few thought he had any chance of winning. Dubbed the modern "David vs. Goliath" fight, the two squared off at Bay View Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Jess Willard was defeated after three rounds and on July 4, 1919, 24-year-old Jack Dempsey became the new World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Jack Dempsey successfully defended his title against Billy Miske, Bill Brennan, Georges Carpentier, and Tommy Gibbons. Luis Angel Firpo of Argentina, known as the "Wild Bull of the Pampas," was the fifth contender. Held at New York City’s Polo Grounds on September 14, 1923, the bout generated such interest it was transmitted via radio to Buenos Aires, where amplifiers drew people to the streets. For those in attendance, it was the most thrilling heavyweight title fight ever. Firpo landed a right to the champion’s jaw seconds after the opening bell; Dempsey knocked the Argentine down 4 times. Then Firpo sent Jack sailing head first through the ropes into the press row where he landed on a reporter’s typewriter. This is considered one of the most memorable scenes in sports history. The champion got back in the ring and dropped the Argentine once more before the bell. Jack Dempsey stopped Firpo with 2 more knockdowns in the second round.
Jack Dempsey married silent film star, Estelle Taylor, in 1925. The two acted in a Broadway play called "The Big Fight," and then made a movie together called "Manhattan Madness." Dempsey played minor characters in several other films and television shows over the years. The sixth challenger for Jack Dempsey’s crown was U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Gene Tunney. On September 23, 1926, at Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a record 120,757 attended, the largest ever for a championship fight. 31-year-old Jack Dempsey lost his title in a 10 round decision on points. Explaining his battered face to Estelle, Jack said, "Honey, I forgot to duck." Trying for a comeback, 32-year-old Jack Dempsey squared off with Gene Tunney at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on September 22, 1927. 104,000 attendees generated a 2.65 million-dollar gate, a record that stood for 50 years. Dempsey’s aggressive ring behavior resulted in a new rule that boxers had to retreat to a neutral corner to give knocked down opponents a chance to get up. In round 7, when Jack floored Gene, he stood over him, refusing to move. The referee pushed Dempsey into a corner and instead of picking up the timekeeper’s count at 6, began the count at 1. Having extra time to recover, Tunney got to his feet on the count of 9. Jack Dempsey lost the match on a decision. The controversial "Battle of the Long Count" fight is probably the most famous in history.
Jack Dempsey’s graciousness in the face of defeat endeared him to the public. In 1930, Jack and Estelle divorced. Dempsey married Broadway singer Hannah Williams in 1933 and fathered two daughters, Joan in 1934, and Barbara in 1936. He opened Jack Dempsey’s Broadway Restaurant in New York City’s Times Square, which was popular and successful, operating from 1935 until 1974. Dempsey fought in exhibitions until 1940, when he retired from professional boxing; he then announced and refereed occasionally. Jack and Hannah divorced in 1943. Dempsey married Deanna Piatelli in 1958 and later adopted her daughter, Barbara. On May 31, 1983, Jack Dempsey died of heart failure in his New York City apartment at age 87.
Bibliography A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring 20s, Roger Kahn, Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1999 How to Fight Tough, Jack Dempsey, Paladin Press, 2002 Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, Jack Dempsey, Author, Jack Cuddy, Editor, Centerline Press, 1983
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