8. “The Manassa Mauler” Jack Dempsey 54-6-9, 44 KOs
William Harrison Dempsey was born in Manassa, Colorado in the early summer days of 1895. He grew up in squalor and left school at 16 years old to ride the rails and live in hobo camps. After finding success brawling for the entertainment of barroom patrons Dempsey elected to turn professional in 1914 under the name Jack Dempsey, a tip of the hat to former Middleweight fighter of the same namesake.
Dempsey’s early career had mixed results though 15 of his first 16 wins came by way of knockout. Dempsey needed to refine his skills but the power he carried in both hands was absolutely impossible to deny. Furthermore, he fought like a man who was demon possessed, raining devastating blows upon whoever was in front of his with reckless abandon.
After gaining some seasoning and a well-deserved reputation as a power-punching crowd pleaser, Dempsey found himself facing “Pottawatamie Giant,” Jess Willard who stood 6’6 ½” and tipped the scales at a solid 245 pounds.
The days of street fighting must have seemed far away to Dempsey as he stood across from the Heavyweight champion of the world in the blazing heat of July 4, 1919. The fireworks started early with Dempsey swarming Willard, dropping him seven times in the first round and stopping him in the third. The conclusion of the fight saw the now ex-champion with a broken jaw, ribs and teeth as well as multiple facial fractures.
After two defenses which he won via knockout, Dempsey faced France’s 50-1 underdog Georges Carpentier in boxing’s first million dollar gate, a testament to the drawing power of a relentless and aptly named “Mauler.”
Dempsey’s last successful defense was a torrid affair against Argentina’s Luis Firpo known as “The Wild Bull of the Pampas.” The furious first round saw Firpo hit the deck seven times and Dempsey twice, the second of which sent him through the ropes and onto the laps of the reporters at ringside. Dempsey rallied to stop Firpo in the 2nd.
Dempsey lost his title to Gene Tunney and his bid to regain it is now boxing lore. After being outboxed throughout the fight Dempsey let loose with a barrage that left Tunney on the deck. The neutral corner rule had been recently implemented and Tunney gained valuable time as referee Dave Barry struggled to get Dempsey to the proper corner. When Barry picked up the count Tunney rose and went on to outpoint Dempsey once again. Having been down for 14 seconds the fight is known as “The Battle of the Long Count.”
Suggested viewing: Jack Dempsey’s legendary slugfest with Luis Firpo in 1923.
