Roaring 20s: The Life of Jack Dempsey

Early Life

• Born on June 24th, 1895 in Manassa, Colorado
• Real name: William Harrison Dempsey
• Nicknames: "Kid Blackie" and "Manassa Mauler"
• Left home at age 16

The Beginning of Boxing

• Discovered fighting talent after leaving home
• Often participated in bar fights for cash
• Part-time bodyguard for Thomas F. Kearns
• First appeared as "Jack Dempsey" in 1914
• During WWI in 1917, worked in shipyard on the side
• Returned to the ring in 1920

The Roaring 20s:

The Life of Jack Dempsey

Taking the Title

• Opponents included Fireman Jim Flynn, Gunboat Smith, Battling Levinksy and Homer Smith
• First manager was John J. Reisler, then later Jack Kearns
• By 1918, Dempsey boxed 17 times, going 15-1 (with one no-decision)

Title Fight & Controversy

• July 4th, 1919: World Title in Toledo, OH
• His opponent was Heavyweight Champion Jess Willard
• Willard fell 7 times and was reported to have many broken bones
• Dempsey thought to have cheated with loaded gloves

The Public Broadcasting System announced:

"Jack Dempsey's boxing style consisted of constantly bobbing and weaving. His attacks were furious and sustained. Behind it all was rage. His aggressive behavior prompted a rule that boxers had to retreat to a neutral corner and give opponents who had been knocked down a chance to get up."

Defending His Title

• Dempsey traveled the world after winning the title
• Defended his title in September of 1920
• Billy Miske in Benton Harbor, MI
• 2nd defense in December of 1920
• Bill Brennan at Madison Square Garden, NY
• 3rd defense in July of 1921
• Georges Carpentier in Jersey City, NJ
• 4th defense in July of 1923
• Tommy Gibbons in Shelby, Montana
• Last successful defense in September of 1923
• Luis Angel Firpo at Polo Grounds in NY

Time Off

• Didn't defend title for 3 years
• Pressure for him to fight Harry Wills
• Dempsey continued to earn money and travel
• Married actress Estelle Taylor
• Broke up with manager/trainer Jack Kearns

Losing the Title

• In September 1926, he fought Irish-American fighter Gene Tunney in Philly, PA
• Dempsey lost his title on points in 10 rounds in front of a record 120,557 people
• "Honey I forgot to duck."
• He fought future Heavyweight Champion Jack Sharkey on July 21, 1927 at Yankee Stadium

Going After the Title

• The Dempsey-Tunney rematch on September 22 in Chicago, IL
• Generated over $2 million at the gate
• Tunney won
• Known as "The Long Count" for it's controversial nature

Retirement

• Dempsey retired after fighting Tunney
• 1932: "Ride of Champions" bucking horse event in Reno, NV
• 1933: Acted as a boxer in a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, divorced Taylor and married Hannah Williams
• 1935: Opened Jack Dempsey Broadway Restaurant in Times Square (closed in 1974)
• 1943: Divorced Williams and married Deanna Piatelli
• WWII: Joined New York State Guard and became a first lieutenant
• Later joined Coast Guard Reserve in 1942 as Director of Physical Education

Writings

• "Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense" published in 1950
• Influenced works from Edward Haislet and Bruce Lee
• "How to Fight Tough" coauthored with professional wrestler Bernard J. Cosneck published during WWII
• "Dempsey", an autobiography collaborated with his daughter Barbara Lynn in 1977

Death

• Died in May, 1893 of heart failure
• Age 87
• Last words: "Don't worry honey; I'm too mean to die"
• Buried in Southampton Cemetery in Southampton, New York

Facts

• His fights set the first $1 million gate
• Listed #10 on "The Ring"'s all-time heavyweight and listed #7 among its top 100 greatest punchers
• Associated Press voted Dempsey as the greatest fighter in the past 50 years in 1950
• Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1950
• Inducted into "The Ring" magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame in 1951

The End!