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Jack Dempsey Vs. Harry Wills in 1920


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Jack Dempsey Vs. Harry Wills in 1920  

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  1. 1. Jack Dempsey Vs. Harry Wills in 1920

    • Dempsey wins via decision
      0
    • Dempsey wins via knockout
      1
    • Wills wins via decision
      0
    • Wills wins via knockout
      1
    • Draw/Fight stopped by racially-infused riot/other result
      0


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Harry Wills: Wins over Sam Langford, Sam McVea, Joe Jeanette (many of which taking place late in the careers of Langford, McVea, Jeanette, respectively), Battling Jim Johnson, Gunboat Smith, Denver Ed Martin, Luis Angel Firpo, amongst others (retired 68-9-3; was 43-5-2 at end of 1920)

 

Jack Dempsey: Wins over Fireman Jim Flynn, Gunboat Smith, Bill Brennan, Battling Levinsky, Billy Miske, Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbons, Jack Sharkey, and Luis Angel Firpo (retired 54-6-9; was 50-4-9 at end of 1920)

 

Video of Wills in

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If this fight had happened, without the so-called "color line" having been drawn, would Dempsey have been able to duke it out with Wills? Both had great punching power, but Wills surely had a tougher go in the early stages of his career. You really must wonder, considering all of the challenges he faced, if Wills would have been able to push past Dempsey; if he would've been too much, too strong for his fellow-legend. His punching power was brutal and, when he was focused, few could beat him... but Wills was a special fighter in his own right. What would be your pick, in 1920, when Wills would've been 31 and Dempsey 25, fresh off of his biggest career wins?

 

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Re: Jack Dempsey Vs. Harry Wills in 1920

 

Video of Wills in

.

 

If this fight had happened, without the so-called "color line" having been drawn, would Dempsey have been able to duke it out with Wills? Both had great punching power, but Wills surely had a tougher go in the early stages of his career. You really must wonder, considering all of the challenges he faced, if Wills would have been able to push past Dempsey; if he would've been too much, too strong for his fellow-legend. His punching power was brutal and, when he was focused, few could beat him... but Wills was a special fighter in his own right. What would be your pick, in 1920, when Wills would've been 31 and Dempsey 25, fresh off of his biggest career wins?

 

Vote in the poll.

 

--- Wills knocked out twice by a half blind Langford and once by Battling Johnson who was tough, but never more than a journeyman other than a few upsets he pulled.

 

Bill Tate owns a DQ and draw over him as well, and Tate a grade up or two from Johnson also happened to be Dempsey's main sparring partner. The only color barrier drawn was by Tex Rickard after the Johnson/Jeffries riots ravaged the country and by various state politicians, NY being most conspicuous as they didn't want to deal with potential riots too. Dempsey left Kearns and Rickard so he could make the fight, signed twice to face him but the politics never worked out and the promoters just couldn't get the backing they needed. At the first signing Wills got $50K upfront purse guarantee that he invested in an apartment building that provided him with a comfortable retirement. Dempsey's guarantee was a bad check, so he never made a dime save in Hollywood where he landed with his new wife and co-star to much Hollywood acclaim.

 

So, I pick Dempsey in 10 of 10 fights as he always chomped up big tall guys like like a tiger on a staked goat. At his peak, before the politics of boxing and Hollywood changed him, not many have a chance to beat him. Incredibly rusty he gave Tunney a hell of a fight with plenty of chin checks that kept Tunney mostly moving in reverse Ali style. Should have won the 2nd fight outright and beat the tarballs out of a prime Jack Sharkey to secure that rematch...

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