Jack Dempsey

For other uses, see Jack Dempsey (disambiguation).

This article is about the 20th-century boxing champion. For the 19th-century boxing champion, see Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey.

Jack Dempsey
Born	William Harrison Dempsey June 24, 1895(1895-06-24) Manassa, Colorado
Died	May 31, 1983(1983-05-31) (aged 87) New York City, New York
Other names	Kid Blackie Manassa Mauler
Nationality	United States
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Reach	77.2 in (196 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Salt Lake City, Utah
Trainer	Teddy Hayes
Years active	14 (1913–1927)
Professional boxing record
Total	83
Wins	66
By knockout	51
Losses	6
By knockout	1
Draws	11
Other information
Occupation	Dempsey's, Restaurant owner
Spouse	Maxine Cates (1916-1919)[1] Estelle Taylor (1925-1933) Hannah Williams (1933-1943) Deanna Piatelli (1943-1983)
Website	http://www.cmgww.com/sports/dempsey/
Boxing record from Boxrec

William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey ("The Manassa Mauler") (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million dollar gate. He is listed #10 on The Ring's list of all-time heavyweights and #7 among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Early life and career

Born in Manassa, Colorado, with the name of William Harrison Dempsey, he grew up in Colorado and Utah, in a poor family of mixed ancestry. His father, Hiram Dempsey, was of Irish, Cherokee, and distant Jewish ancestry, and his mother, Mary Celia (née Smoot), was of Irish and Cherokee descent.^[2] Both parents became Mormon converts,^[3] and Jack was baptized on August 2, 1903, after he reached the required age of accountability. Jack would later write, "I'm proud to be a Mormon. And ashamed to be the Jack Mormon that I am." ^[4] Because his father had difficulty finding work, the family traveled often. He dropped out of grade school to work. Dempsey left home at the age of 16, eager to start a better life for himself. Due to lack of money, he frequently had to travel underneath trains and sleep in hobo camps. However, Dempsey was a strong, powerful youth who soon discovered a talent for fighting. With the help of his older brother Bernie, he commenced training as a professional boxer. In 1927, tragedy befell Dempsey's family when his other brother, John, shot his own wife, then killed himself in a murder-suicide.^[5]

Desperate for money, Dempsey would occasionally visit saloons and challenge for fights saying "I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any SOB in the house." If anyone accepted the challenge, bets would be wagered. According to Dempsey's autobiography, he rarely lost these barroom brawls. A little known fact about Dempsey is that for a short time, he was a part-time bodyguard for Thomas F. Kearns, president of The Salt Lake Tribune and son of Utah's U.S. Senator Thomas Kearns. (no relation to Jack Kearns) The two men remained friends for years afterward.

Dempsey's exact boxing record is not known, because he occasionally boxed under the pseudonym, "Kid Blackie". (His use of the pseudonym continued until 1916). Meanwhile, he first appeared as "Jack Dempsey" in 1914, after an earlier middleweight boxer Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey, drawing with Young Herman in six rounds. After that fight, he won six bouts in a row by knockout (as Jack Dempsey), before losing for the first time, on a disqualification in four rounds to Jack Downey. During this early part of his career, Dempsey campaigned in Utah, frequently entering fights in towns up and down the Wasatch mountain range and keeping in shape with such sparring partners as Frank VanSickle.

He followed his loss against Downey with a knockout win and two draws versus Johnny Sudenberg in Nevada. Three more wins and a draw followed when he met Downey again, this time resulting in a four-round draw.

Ten wins in a row followed — a streak during which he beat Sudenberg and was finally able to avenge his defeat at the hands of Downey, knocking him out in two rounds. Three more non-decisions ensued. (At this point in the history of boxing, many states and counties forbade the use of judges to score a fight, so if a fight lasted the full distance, it was called a draw or non-decision, depending on the state or county where the fight was held).

While the United States fought World War I in 1917, Dempsey worked in a shipyard while continuing to box. Afterward, he was accused by some boxing fans of being a slacker. It was not until 1920 that he was able to clear his name on that account, when evidence was produced showing he had attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army, but had been turned down. After the war, Dempsey spent two years in Salt Lake City, Utah — "bumming around", as he called it — in a very tough America, before returning to the ring.^[6]

Taking the title

Dempsey mock punching Harry Houdini (held back by Benny Leonard)

Among his opponents were Fireman Jim Flynn, the only boxer ever to beat Dempsey by a knockout when Dempsey lost to him in the first round (although many boxing historians, including Monte Cox, believe the fight was a "fix"),^{[citation needed]} and Gunboat Smith, formerly a highly ranked contender who had beaten both World Champion Jess Willard and Hall of Famer Sam Langford. Dempsey beat Smith for the third time on a second-round KO.

Dempsey's first manager was John J. Reisler.^[7] Dempsey later hooked up with Jack Kearns, an experienced, clever fight manager who carefully and skillfully guided Dempsey to the top.^[8]

In 1918, Dempsey boxed 17 times, going 15–1 with one no-decision. He avenged his defeat against Flynn by returning the favor, knocking him out in the first round. Among others he beat were light heavyweight champion Battling Levinsky (who had never been knocked out before Dempsey did so), Bill Brennan, Fred Fulton, Carl E. Morris, Billy Miske ("newspaper decision"), heavyweight Lefty Jim McGettigan and Homer Smith, in 1919, he won five bouts in a row by knockout in the first round (although these were barnstorming appearances against low level, local oppisition. In many cases his opponents were stepping into the ring for the first time as "professionals").

Title fight and controversy

Jack Dempsey (date unknown).

On July 4, 1919, he and world heavyweight champion Jess Willard met at Toledo, Ohio, for the world title. Some knowledgeable observers such as Benny Leonard predicted a victory for Dempsey against the vastly larger champion but many called the fight a modern David and Goliath. In the event Willard was knocked down seven times — all in the first round — although it should be remembered that rules at the time permitted standing almost over a knocked-down opponent and hitting him again as soon as both knees had left the canvas. Willard's corner would not let him answer the bell for the fourth round. He was widely reported to have suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs, several broken teeth and a number of deep fractures to his facial bones, an unprecedented level of damage in boxing which aroused suspicion that Dempsey had cheated. Many questioned how the force capable of causing such damage had been transmitted through Dempsey's knuckles without fracturing them.^[6] Although some reporting in the aftermath of the match mentions no real injuries^[9] the New York Times account of the contest is representative of ringside coverage of the actual event from major newspapers, it describes severe swelling being visible on one side of Willard's face.^[10] A still photograph appears to show an unusual degree of discoloration and swelling on the face of Willard.^[6]

A disgruntled Kearns, who had been sacked by Dempsey, gave an account that became known as the "loaded gloves theory" in Sports Illustrated, January 20, 1964. Kearns claimed to have informed Dempsey that he had wagered Dempsey's share of the purse on Dempsey winning with a first-round knockout and had applied plaster of paris to the customary wrappings under Dempsey's gloves, Historian J. J. Johnston said "the films show Willard upon entering the ring walking over to Dempsey and examining his hands". That and an experiment conducted by a boxing magazine seem to disprove Keans' story.^[11] However, Willard's actions in checking the wraps of his opponent, not a normal procedure, implies he was concerned about foul play, Willard later claimed to have been defeated by gangsterism.^[6] Nat Fleischer, later founder of The Ring Magazine, was there when Dempsey's hands were wrapped: "Jack Dempsey had no loaded gloves, and no plaster of paris over his bandages. I watched the proceedings and the only person who had anything to do with the taping of Jack's hands was Deforest. Kearns had nothing to do with it, so his plaster of paris story is simply not true. Deforest himself said that he regarded the stories of Dempsey's gloves being loaded as libel, calling them 'trash' and said he did not apply any foreign substance to them, which I can verify since I watched the taping."^[12]

Another suggestion is that Dempsey had an object resembling a rail spike in his gloved hand which he used as a knuckleduster during the first round, the only one in which Willard was knocked down.^[6] In the Los Angeles Times (July 3, 1979), Joe Stone, an ex-referee and boxing writer, asserted that in film of the fight an object could be seen lying on the canvas after the final knockdown and that this object appears to be removed by someone who seems to be from Dempsey's corner. The countervailing view is that Dempsey can be seen pushing and holding with the palm of the glove which would have made it all but impossible to keep a spike hidden or in place.^[9]

Dempsey, thinking the fight was over, had left the ring at the end of the first round, a clear violation of the rules which Willard's corner might have used to insist the referee disqualify Dempsey. However, Willard had economized by employing non-professional corner-men and they failed to make the necessary timely objection.^[13]

Title defenses

Dempsey and Carpentier in the arena before the fight

After beating Jess Willard and winning the title, Jack Dempsey traveled around the country, making publicity appearances with circuses, staging exhibitions, and even starring in a low-budget Hollywood movie. Dempsey did not defend his title until September 1920. This was against Billy Miske in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Miske was a good fighter but past his prime when he challenged Jack for the title, and was knocked out in three rounds.

Dempsey's second title defense was much tougher, against Bill Brennan in December 1920 at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Brennan had given Dempsey a tough match two years earlier. After ten rounds, Brennan was actually ahead on points, and Dempsey's left ear was bleeding profusely. Dempsey rebounded to stop Brennan in the 12th round.

The next fight for "The Manassa Mauler" was against Frenchman Georges Carpentier, who had been a war hero during World War I and was extremely popular on both sides of the Atlantic.^[14] The bout was shrewdly promoted by Tex Rickard, emphasizing the differences between the two men, and George Bernard Shaw, who claimed that Carpentier was "the greatest boxer in the world" and stacked the odds 50 to 1 against Dempsey.^[15] The anticipation for this bout was tremendous.

The Dempsey-Carpentier contest took place on July 2, 1921 at Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, generating the first million dollar gate in boxing history. A crowd of 91,000 watched the fight. Though it was deemed "the Fight of the Century," and many people who didn't know much about boxing thought Carpentier had a chance to win, most experts anticipated a one-sided win for Dempsey, and they were right. RCA arranged for live coverage of the match making the event the first national radio broadcast reaching mostly homemade radio sets after first being telegraphed to KDKA for broadcast.^[16]

Carpentier got off to a fast start and reportedly even wobbled Dempsey with a hard right in the second round. A reporter at ringside, however, counted twenty-five punches from Dempsey in a single thirty-one second exchange soon after he was supposedly injured by the right.^[15] Carpentier also broke his thumb in that round, which crippled his chances. In the 3rd, the bigger, stronger Dempsey began to take charge and administered a brutal beating to Georges. The Frenchman was eventually stopped in the fourth round.

Dempsey did not defend his title again until July 1923 against Tommy Gibbons in Shelby, Montana. Gibbons was a skilled, clever boxer, but was not powerful enough against the bigger, stronger Dempsey, who won a 15-round decision.

The last successful title defense for Dempsey was in September 1923 at New York's Polo Grounds. His opponent in the fight was the huge, powerful, yet limited contender Luis Angel Firpo, from Argentina. Attendance was 85,000, with another 20,000 trying to get inside the arena. Dempsey won via a 2nd-round KO, but it was an exciting battle. Firpo was knocked down repeatedly yet continued to battle back, even knocking Dempsey down twice. The second time Dempsey was floored he went sailing head first through the ring ropes, landing on a reporter's typewriter, and taking several more seconds than the ten stipulated by the rules. This scene is one of the most memorable in sports history. This fight was so important that it was transmitted live to Buenos Aires by radio, and people gathered in the streets to listen to it through primitive amplifiers.^[17] These fights, plus his many exhibitions, movies and endorsements, had made Dempsey one of the richest athletes in the world.

Time off from boxing

Jack Dempsey holding his wife, Estelle Taylor, on his shoulder

After the Firpo brawl, Dempsey did not defend his title for another three years. There was pressure from the public and the media for Dempsey to defend his title against black contender Harry Wills. There is disagreement among boxing historians as to whether Dempsey avoided Wills, though Dempsey claimed he was willing. When he originally won the title, however, he had said he would not fight black boxers.^[18] Instead of defending his title, Dempsey continued to earn money by boxing exhibitions, making movies, and endorsing products. Dempsey also did a lot of traveling, spending and partying. During this time away from competitive fighting, Dempsey married actress Estelle Taylor, and broke up with his long-time trainer/manager Jack "Doc" Kearns. This break-up did not go smoothly, and Kearns repeatedly sued Dempsey for huge sums of money. He was also appointed to the executive of the Irish Worker League (IWL) in April 1924. The IWL was a Moscow backed communist movement founded by Irish labour leader, Jim Larkin, in Dublin.^[19]

Loss of title and the "Long Count"

In September 1926, Dempsey fought Irish-American former U.S. Marine Gene Tunney in Philadelphia.^[20] Tunney was an excellent boxer who had lost only once in his career. Nevertheless, Tunney was still considered the underdog.

In a big upset, Dempsey lost his title on points in ten rounds. No longer displaying his legendary punching power or hand speed, Dempsey was easily outboxed by the slick Tunney who would dodge, use excellent pad level, and then let loose with a salvo of punches of his own. The attendance for this fight was a record 120,557, the largest attendance ever for a sporting event outside motor racing and soccer. When the battered Dempsey returned to his dressing room, he explained the defeat to his film actress wife Estelle Taylor by saying, "Honey, I forgot to duck." This phrase was later used by President Ronald Reagan to his wife after Reagan was shot during a failed attempt on his life in 1981.

Dempsey contemplated retiring, but after a few months of rest decided to try a comeback. On July 21, 1927, at Yankee Stadium, he knocked out future heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey in the seventh round of an elimination bout for a title shot against Tunney. Sharkey was beating Dempsey until the end, when the fight ended controversially. Sharkey claimed that Dempsey had been hitting him below the belt and when Sharkey turned to the referee to complain, he left himself unprotected. Dempsey crashed a left hook onto Sharkey's chin, knocking him out cold. The referee then counted out Sharkey.

The Tunney rematch took place in Chicago, Illinois, on September 22, 364 days after losing his title to Tunney in their first bout. This fight generated even more interest than the Carpentier and Firpo bouts, generating an amazing $2 million gate, a record that stood for many years. According to legend Al Capone offered to fix the rematch in his favor, but Dempsey refused. Millions of people around the country listened to the bout on the radio, and hundreds of reporters covered the event. Tunney was paid a record one million dollars for the Dempsey rematch (his official purse was actually $990,000, so he gave the promoters a check of his own for $10,000 so he could receive the "million dollar payday", a photostat of which is still owned by the Tunney family). Dempsey earned about half that.

Dempsey was losing the fight on points when he knocked Tunney down with a left hook to the chin in the seventh round, and landed several more punches. A new rule for boxing at the time mandated that when a fighter knocked down an opponent, he must immediately go to a neutral corner. But Dempsey seemed to have forgotten that rule (compare his fight with Willard where he almost stood over his downed opponent ready to strike again) and refused to immediately move to the neutral corner when instructed by the referee. The referee had to escort Dempsey to the neutral corner, which bought Tunney at least an extra five seconds to recover.

The official timekeeper for the fight counted the time Tunney stayed down as 14 seconds. But, after Dempsey finally went to a neutral corner, the referee started his count, and Tunney got up at the referee's count of nine. Dempsey tried to finish Tunney off before the round ended, but he failed to do so. A fully recovered Tunney dropped Dempsey for a count of one in round eight, easily won the final two rounds of the fight, and retained the title on a unanimous decision. Ironically, the new rule (which was not yet universal) was requested during negotiations by members of the Dempsey camp. Another discrepancy was the fact that when Tunney knocked Dempsey down, the referee started the count immediately, not waiting for Tunney to move to a neutral corner.^[21] Because of the controversial nature of the fight, it remains known in history as the fight of "The Long Count".

Retirement

Dempsey retired after this bout and made countless exhibition bouts. Dempsey's benevolence was also noteworthy. In June 1932, Dempsey sponsored the "Ride of Champions" bucking horse event at Reno, Nevada; the Dempsey Trophy went to legendary bronc rider Pete Knight. In 1933 Dempsey was approached by the MGM to play a boxer. The film, "The Prizefighter and the Lady", directed by W.S. Van Dyke, starred Dempsey with Myrna Loy and obtained good reviews. In 1935, Dempsey opened Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant in New York City's Times Square, which he kept open until 1974. Although closed today, many years later people still have fond memories of the legendary hangout. Dempsey divorced Taylor and in July 1933 married Broadway singer Hannah Williams (who had just divorced Roger Wolfe Kahn) and had two children with her. Shortly after Dempsey divorced Hannah Williams in 1943, the boxer married Deanna Piatelli, and was married to her at the time of his death. Together with Deanna's daughter, Barbara, Dempsey would pen the book "Dempsey" later on in life.

When the United States entered World War II, Dempsey had an opportunity to refute any remaining criticism of his war record of two decades earlier. Dempsey joined New York State National Guard and was given a commission as a first lieutenant. Dempsey resigned that commission to accept a commission as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserve. Dempsey reported for active duty in June 1942 at Coast Guard Training Station, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York, where he was assigned as "Director of Physical Education." Dempsey also made many personal appearances at fights, camps, hospitals and War Bond drives. Dempsey was promoted to lieutenant commander in December 1942 and commander in March 1944. In 1944 Dempsey was assigned to the transport USS Wakefield (AP-21). In 1945 Dempsey was on the attack transport USS Arthur Middleton (APA-25) for the invasion of Okinawa. Dempsey also spent time aboard the USS General William Mitchell (AP-114), where he spent time showing the crew sparring techniques. Dempsey was released from active duty in September 1945 and he was given an honorable discharge from the Coast Guard Reserve in 1952.^[22]

True to his passion for the sport, Dempsey wrote a book on boxing called Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, which was published in 1950. The book emphasizes knockout power derived from enabling fast motion from one's heavy bodyweight. Though no longer in print, Dempsey's book became and remains the recognized treatise in boxing and has influenced such works from Edwin Haislet and Bruce Lee.

Dempsey was also something of a cross-trainer; he wrestled in training camp and later took judo lessons. He later wrote a book on this, How to Fight Tough, which dealt with close-quarters combat incorporating boxing, wrestling, and jiujitsu.^[23]

Dempsey made friends with Wills and Tunney after retirement, and many books were written about his life. Dempsey even campaigned for Tunney's son John V. Tunney when he ran for the U.S. Senate, from California. One of Dempsey's best friends was Judge John Sirica, who presided over the Watergate trials.

Death

In 1977, in collaboration with his daughter Barbara Lynn, Jack published his autobiography, titled Dempsey. In May 1983, Dempsey died of heart failure at age 87. With his wife Deanna at his side, his last words were ... "Don't worry honey; I'm too mean to die." He is buried in the Southampton Cemetery in Southampton, New York.

Dempsey is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. The street where Madison Square Garden is located is called Jack Dempsey Corner.

Boxing record

Boxing record

66 Wins (51 T(KO)'s, 14 decisions , 1 disqualification), 6 Losses (1 T(KO), 5 decisions), 11 Draws[24] Date Result Opponent Location Method Round Time Record 1927-09-22 Loss Gene Tunney Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Decision (Unanimous) 10 3:00 66-6-11 Fight was for NBA and World Heavyweight titles. 1927-06-21 Win Jack Sharkey Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, NY KO (Left hook) 7 (15) 0:45 66-5-11 1926-09-23 Loss Gene Tunney Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, PA Decision (Unanimous) 10 3:00 65-5-11 Lost NBA and World Heavyweight titles. 1923-09-14 Win Luis Ángel Firpo Polo Grounds, New York City, NY KO (Short right) 2 (15) 0:57 65-4-11 Retains New York State Athletic Commission and World Heavyweight titles 1923-07-04 Win Tommy Gibbons Shelby, MT Decision (Unanimous) 15 3:00 64-4-11 1922-07-24 Win Jimmy Darcy Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, NY Decision 4 3:00 63-4-11 Wins NYSAC Heavyweight title. 1921-07-02 Win Georges Carpentier Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, NJ KO (Right hook) 4 (12) 62-4-11 Retains World Heavyweight title and won NBA Heavyweight title. 1920-12-14 Win Bill Brennan Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY KO (Body punches) 12 (15) 1:57 61-4-11 Retains World Heavyweight title. 1920-09-06 Win Billy Miske Benton Harbor, MI KO (Right hook) 3 (10) 1:13 60-4-11 Retains World Heavyweight title. 1919-07-04 Win Jess Willard Bay View Park Arena, Toledo, OH TKO (Corner stoppage) 3 (12) 3:00 59-4-11 Wins World Heavyweight title. 1919-04-02 Win Tony Drake New Haven, CT KO 1 0:11 58-4-11 1919-02-13 Win Eddie Smith Altoona, PA KO 1 57-4-11 1919-01-29 Win Kid Henry Easton, PA KO 1 56-4-11 1919-01-23 Win Kid Harris Rajah Theater, Reading, PA KO 1 (3) 55-4-11 1919-01-22 Win Jack Hickey Orpheum Theater, Harrisburg, PA KO 1 (3) 54-4-11 1919-01-15 Win Jim Maguire Grand Theatre, Trenton, NJ KO 1 (3) 1:00 53-4-11 1918-12-29 Win Gunboat Smith Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, NY KO (Short right) 2 (8) 52-4-11 1918-12-16 Win Carl E. Morris Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, LA KO (Left hook) 1 (20) 51-4-11 1918-11-28 Win Billy Miske Olympia Club, Philadelphia, PA Decision 6 50-4-11 1918-11-18 Win Dan Flynn Olympia Club, Philadelphia, PA KO (Left hook) 1 (6) 2:16 49-4-11 1918-11-06 Win Battling Levinsky Olympia Club, Philadelphia, PA KO (Right punch) 3 (6) 48-4-11 1918-09-14 Win Jack Moran Moana Springs Arena, Reno, NV KO 1 (10) 47-4-11 1918-09-13 Loss Willie Meehan San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA Decision 4 3:00 46-4-11 1918-08-17 Win Terry Kellar Westwood Field Gym, Dayton, OH TKO 5 (15) 46-3-11 1918-07-27 Win Fred Fulton Federal League Baseball Park, Harrison, NJ KO (Right hook) 1 (8) 0:18 45-3-11 1918-07-06 Win Dan Flynn Atlanta Auditorium, Atlanta, GA KO 1 (10) 44-3-11 1918-07-04 Win Bob Devere Joplin, MO KO 1 (12) 43-3-11 1918-07-01 Win Kid McCarthy Tulsa, OK KO 1 (12) 42-3-11 1918-05-22 Win Dan Ketchell Excelsior Springs, MO KO 2 (10) 1:00 41-3-11 1918-05-20 Win Arthur Pelkey Stockyards Stadium, Denver, CO KO 1 (15) 1:00 40-3-11 1918-05-03 Draw Billy Miske Auditorium, St. Paul, MN Decision draw 10 3:00 39-3-11 1918-03-25 Win Tom Riley Joplin, MO KO 1 (15) 39-3-10 1918-03-06 Win Fred Saddy Memphis, TN KO 1 (8) 38-3-10 1918-02-25 Win Bill Brennan Auditorium, Milwaukee, WI TKO 6 (10) 37-3-10 1918-02-14 Win Fireman Jim Flynn Fort Sheridan, IL KO 1 (10) 1:10 36-3-10 1918-02-04 Win Carl Morris Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, NY Disqualification 6 (10) 35-3-10 1918-01-24 Win Homer Smith Racine, WI KO 1 (10) 1:55 34-3-10 1917-11-02 Win Carl Morris Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, CA Decision 4 3:00 33-3-10 1917-10-02 Win Gunboat Smith Recreation Park, San Francisco, CA Decision 4 3:00 32-3-10 1917-09-26 Win Bob McAllister Arena, Emeryville, CA Decision 4 3:00 31-3-10 1917-09-19 Win Charley Miller Arena, Emeryville, CA KO 1 (4) 30-3-10 1917-09-07 Draw Willie Meehan Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, CA Decision draw 4 3:00 29-3-10 1917-08-10 Draw Willie Meehan Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, CA Decision draw 4 3:00 29-3-9 1917-08-01 Win Al Norton Arena, Emeryville, CA KO 1 (4) 29-3-8 1917-07-25 Win Willie Meehan Arena, Emeryville, CA Decision 4 3:00 28-3-8 1917-04-11 Draw Al Norton West Oakland Club, Oakland, CA Decision draw 4 3:00 27-3-8 1917-03-28 Loss Willie Meehan Arena, Emeryville, CA Decision 4 3:00 27-3-7 1917-03-17 Draw Al Norton West Oakland Club, Oakland, CA Decision draw 4 3:00 27-2-7 1917-02-13 Loss Fireman Jim Flynn Murray, UT KO (Right hook) 1 (15) 0:10 27-2-6 1916-11-28 Win Young Hector Salida, CO KO 2 (10) 27-1-6 1916-10-16 Win Dick Gilbert Salt Lake Theater, Salt Lake City, UT Decision 10 3:00 26-1-6 1916-10-07 Win Terry Kellar Ely, NV Decision 10 3:00 25-1-6 1916-09-28 Win Young Hector Murray Fire Hall, Murray, UT TKO (Retired) 3 (10) 24-1-6 1916-07-14 Draw John Lester Johnson Harlem Sports Club, New York City, NY Decision Draw 10 3:00 23-1-6 1916-07-08 Win Bert Kenny Fairmont Athletic Club, The Bronx, NY Decision 10 3:00 23-1-5 1916-06-24 Win Andre Anderson Fairmont Athletic Club, The Bronx, NY Decision 10 3:00 22-1-5 1916-05-30 Win Bob York Elko Theater, Price, UT KO 4 (6) 21-1-5 Billed for Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight title. 1916-05-17 Win Dan Ketchell Provo, UT KO 3 (6) 20-1-5 1916-05-03 Win Terry Kellar Alhambra Theater, Ogden, UT Decision 10 3:00 19-1-5 Billed for World Light Heavyweight title. 1916-04-08 Win Joe Bonds Ely, NV Decision 10 3:00 18-1-5 1916-03-17 Win George Christian Elko Theater, Price, UT KO 1 (15) 17-1-5 1916-03-09 Win Cyril Kohen Mozart Theatre, Provo, UT KO 4 (6) 16-1-5 1916-02-23 Win Boston Bearcat Armory, Ogden, UT KO 1 (4) 15-1-5 1916-02-21 Win Jack Downey Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT KO (Right punch) 2 (4) 14-1-5 1916-02-01 Win Johnny Sudenberg Bijo Hall, Ely, NV KO 2 (10) 13-1-5 1915-12-20 Win Jack Gillian Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT TKO 1 (4) 12-1-5 1915-12-13 Draw Jack Downey Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT Decision draw 4 3:00 11-1-5 1915-11-19 Win George Copelin Cripple Creek, CO KO 6 (10) 11-1-4 1915-10-23 Win Andy Malloy Montrose, CO KO 3 10-1-4 1915-10-07 Win Andy Malloy Gem Theater, Durango, CO Decision 10 3:00 9-1-4 1915-08-01 Win Fred Woods Moose Hall, Montrose, CO KO 4 8-1-4 1915-06-11 Draw Johnny Sudenberg Tonopah, NV Decision draw 10 3:00 7-1-4 1915-05-31 Draw Johnny Sudenberg Goldfield, NV Decision draw 10 3:00 7-1-3 1915-04-26 Win Emmanuel Campbell Jockey Athletic Club, Reno, NV TKO (Referee stoppage) 4 (4) 7-1-2 1915-04-05 Loss Jack Downey Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT Decision 4 3:00 6-1-2 1915-04-01 Win Chief Gordon Utah KO 6 6-0-2 1915-03-03 Win Johnny Pierson Utah KO 7 5-0-2 1915-02-26 Draw Laverne Collier Pocatello, ID Decision draw 4 3:00 4-0-2 1915-02-02 Win Joe Lyons Utah KO 9 4-0-1 1915-01-01 Win Jim Johnson Salt Lake City, UT KO 1 3-0-1 1914-11-30 Win Billy Murphy Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT KO 1 (4) 2-0-1 1914-11-02 Win Young Hancock Manhattan Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT KO 1 (4) 1-0-1 1914-08-17 Draw Young Herman Ramona, CO Decision draw 6 3:00 0-0-1 Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

References

1. ^ Kahn, Roger, "A Flame of Pure Fire," pg. 19
2. ^ According to a January 11, 1955 Sports Illustrated article
3. ^ Kahn, Roger (2000). A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s. Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s. p. 175. ISBN0156014149. 
4. ^ Nichols, Jeffrey D. (March 1995), "Jack Dempsey Loved Fighting, Mining, and Cowboying", History Blazer (Utah State Historical Society), http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/jackdempseylovedfighting.html 
5. ^ "Dempsey's Brother Slays Wife, Self. John Dempsey Shoots Woman, Then Commits Suicide, at Schenectady. Boxer Identifies Bodies. He Is Deeply Affected by the Tragedy. Couple Had Been Estranged for Year.". New York Times. July 3, 1927, Sunday. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3071FF6385B157A93C1A9178CD85F438285F9. Retrieved 2008-10-16. "Apparently in a spell of temporary insanity due to a recurring attack of an illness to which he had been subject for several years, John Dempsey, brother of the former heavyweight champion, fatally shot his 21-year-old revile, Edna, in a rooming house here today." 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e} The 12 Greatest Rounds Of Boxing: The Untold Stories., ‎Ferdie Pacheco (2004)
7. ^ "'John the Barber' Fight Mentor, Dead. Jack Dempsey's First Manager Succumbs to an Infection of His Finger. His Wife, Reconciled After Long Separation, Is at Bedside With Their Children.". New York Times. September 16, 1930, Tuesday. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50913FF3B5C11738DDDAF0994D1405B808FF1D3. Retrieved 2008-10-16. ""John the Barber," in private life John J. Reisler, known on Broadway for many years as a barber, fight manager and friend of the street's great and near-great, died yesterday..." 
8. ^ "Jack Kearns, Manager of Dempsey, Dies at 80; Earned and Spent a Fortune as Pilot of Six Champions. Associated With Rickard Life Full of Drama Taught Dempsey Left Hook Dempsey Winner in 15.". New York Times. July 8, 1963. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A1FF63554177B93CAA9178CD85F478685F9. Retrieved 2008-10-16. "Jack Kearns, who managed Jack Dempsey and other boxing champions, died today at the home of his son Jack Kearns Jr. He was 80 years old." 
9. ^ ^{a b} Were Dempsey’s Gloves Loaded? You Decide!
10. ^ The New York Times.(July 5, 1919), Saturday Section: Sports, Page 18
11. ^ "Were Dempsey's Gloves Loaded? You Decide!". Coxscorner.tripod.com. http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_gloves.html. Retrieved 2011-01-16. 
12. ^ Fleischer, Nat, 50 Years At Ringside, p. 118.
13. ^ The 12 Greatest Rounds Of Boxing: The Untold Stories,‎ Ferdie Pacheco (2004)
14. ^ Radosta, John S. (October 29, 1975, Wednesday). "Georges Carpentier, Boxer, Dies in Paris; He Fought Dempsey at Boyle's Thirty Acres in 1921". New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7091FFF3E55157493CBAB178BD95F418785F9. Retrieved 2008-10-16. "Georges Carpentier, who lost on a fourth-round knockout to Jack Dempsey in boxing's first $1-million gate, died last night of a heart attack. He was 81 years old." 
15. ^ ^{a b} The Lawless Decade By Paul Sann
16. ^ Fisher, Marc. Something in the Air. Random House. xiv. ISBN 978-0-375-50907-0. 
17. ^ Revista El Gráfico, 22-9-1923
18. ^ "Jack Dempsey, New Heavyweight Champion, Announces He Will Draw the Color Line". The New York Times. July 5, 1919. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00A17F93F5E157A93C4A9178CD85F4D8185F9. 
19. ^ Emmet O'Connor, Reds and the Green: Ireland, Russia and the Communist Internationals, 1919-1943
20. ^ "Tunney, Boxing Champion Who Beat Dempsey, Dies. Lectured on Shakespeare.". New York Times. November 8, 1978, Wednesday. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0610FF3D5511728DDDA10894D9415B888BF1D3. Retrieved 2008-10-16. "Gene Tunney, the former heavyweight boxing champion who twice defeated Jack Dempsey, died yesterday at the Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. He was 80 years old and had been suffering from a circulation ailment." 
21. ^ Jack Dempsey - The Idol of Fistiana Book by Nat Fleischer - Chapter 63
22. ^ "USCG: Frequently Asked Questions". Uscg.mil. http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/jackdempsey.asp. Retrieved 2011-01-16. 
23. ^ "Combat Classics - How to Fight Tough". Paladin-press.com. http://www.paladin-press.com/product/668/91. Retrieved 2011-01-16. 
24. ^ "Jack Dempsey's career boxing record". Boxrec.com. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9009&cat=boxer. Retrieved 2008-12-20. 

External links

• Professional boxing record for Jack Dempsey from BoxRec
• Jack Dempsey at Find a Grave
• Comprehensive video highlights of Dempsey and his contemporaries
• Jack Dempsey's New York Restaurant
• Video Highlights of Dempsey
• Biography at Utah.gov
• Picture of Dempsey contracting to fight Wills in 1925
• Free Downloadable Menu from Jack Dempsey's New York Restaurant

Achievements
Preceded by Jess Willard	World Heavyweight Champion July 4, 1919 - September 23, 1926	Succeeded by Gene Tunney
Preceded by Jack Johnson	Longest Reigning Heavyweight Champion October 13, 1925 - September 12, 1944	Succeeded by Joe Louis
Awards
Preceded by David Lloyd George	Cover of Time Magazine 10 September 1923	Succeeded by Israel Zangwill
Preceded by Harry Greb	Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1923	Succeeded by Harry Greb

Persondata
Name	Dempsey, Jack
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1895-06-24
Place of birth	Manassa, Colorado
Date of death	1983-05-31
Place of death	New York City, NY