The Death & Legacy Of Boxing Legend Jack Dempsey, Explained

In the history of boxing, few fighters have captured the public imagination quite like Jack Dempsey. Known as the "Manassa Mauler," Dempsey was one of the most popular and feared heavyweight champions of all time, dominating the sport in the Roaring Twenties with his aggressive, brawling style and formidable punching power.

Rise From Humble Roots

Dempsey was born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24, 1895 in the small Mormon town of Manassa, Colorado. He grew up poor, with his father Hiram Dempsey trying to scrape together money any way he could, working as a farmer, miner, and rail worker. Young Jack had to work from an early age to help support the family, taking odd jobs around rail yards and mines as a teenager.

Hungry for money, he started competing in saloon boxing matches, eventually adopting the nickname "Kid Blackie." After wandering the country as an itinerant fighter for a few years, Dempsey settled in Salt Lake City in 1914. There, he married his first wife, Maxine Cates, before eventually moving to New York City in 1916 in search of bigger fights and better opportunities.

Adopting the new name "Jack Dempsey," he slowly built his reputation on the East Coast as a dangerous puncher, scoring many early knockout wins. Though raw and unpolished, his aggression and power caught the eye of well-known promoters and managers, helping propel Dempsey's career forward.

The Title and the Long Count

Dempsey got his first shot at the heavyweight title in 1919 against 6'6" champion Jess Willard. He viciously attacked Willard, knocking him down seven times in the first round alone, breaking his jaw and knocking out several teeth. Willard couldn't answer the bell for the fourth round, making Dempsey champion by TKO.

Dempsey reigned as champion for seven years, defending his belt against the likes of Georges Carpentier and Luis Firpo in wildly popular bouts that secured his status as a superstar and national icon. But it was his two epic clashes with Gene Tunney that became integral to the Dempsey legend—particularly their 1927 rematch which featured the famous "Long Count" controversy.

In that fight, Tunney had thoroughly outboxed Dempsey over seven rounds, using excellent lateral movement and footwork to avoid Dempsey's fearsome rushes. But in the seventh, Dempsey unleashed a brutal salvo of hooks and uppercuts that floored Tunney.

Controversially, the referee didn't pick up the count until several seconds after Tunney hit the canvas, allowing him extra time to recover. Tunney finally rose at the count of 9 before surviving the round and going on to win a decision, thus ending Dempsey's championship reign.

Box Office Sensation

Regardless of the loss to Tunney, Dempsey remained boxing's biggest draw in the late 1920s. In 1927, his bout with Jack Sharkey set a new record with over $1 million in gate receipts. And his eventual showdown with Tunney at Soldier Field in Chicago drew over $2 million—the equivalent of around $30 million today.

Dempsey's popularity and salability came from his innate stage presence and natural charisma. Outside the ring, he rubbed shoulders with Hollywood stars and Broadway elite like Charlie Chaplin and Babe Ruth. Inside of it, he fought with a savage aggression that whipped crowds into a frenzy, attacking with an offense-first style that was thrilling to behold. Where other champions relied on careful technical boxing, Dempsey overwhelmed opponents with brute force.

"I always tried to give the people their money's worth," Dempsey once said, summarizing his ethos.

Controversy and Decline

But Dempsey was no stranger to controversy and criticism. He was accused of draft dodging during World War I, facing questions about his lack of military service. Dempsey claimed he worked in shipyards and tried enlisting but was turned down for ear problems.

Many of his fights were accompanied by accusations of "fixing" as well, with mobsters like Owney Madden having unseemly influence behind the scenes. Dempsey's management apparently bet against Dempsey in his fight with Firpo, believing he would lose, fueling suspicions.

Dempsey finally retired in 1929 after an ill-fated comeback attempt, his final record standing at 60 wins with 50 knockouts and only 6 losses. His last two fights,a draw against Jack Sharkey and a loss to young upstart Max Schmeling, convinced Dempsey his best days were behind him.

Last Years and Legacy

He remained in the public eye for decades, promoting fights, acting in films, and opening a popular Broadway restaurant and nightclub bearing his name. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's later in life, he passed away in 1983 at age 87.

Nearly 40 years since his death, Dempsey's imprint on boxing remains indelible. He helped lift the sport from the dark, underground world of saloons and gambling halls into the national mainstream. His popularity and charisma fixed the template for the modern celebrity-athlete. And his relentless, crowd-pleasing style set the tone for generations of sluggers after him.

In a violent sport not known for longevity, Dempsey dominated among his peers for close to a decade. His clashes with Tunney became the stuff of American folklore. And his rags-to-riches story captured the imagination of the public like few athletes before him, well long before the world would ever hear of any of the Mayweathers. Eight decades later, the name Jack Dempsey is still synonymous with power, passion and the history of boxing itself.

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