Jack Johnson versus Jack Dempsey Historical Dream Matchup: Who Would Win?
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
In 1941, a 63 year old Jack Johnson, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all-time, called out 46 year old Jack Dempsey for what might be regarded as potentially the strangest bout of the century, if it came to pass. Johnson correctly identified three years had passed between Dempsey’s victory over Angel Luis Firpo at the Polo Grounds in New York in 1923, and his ten round world title loss to Gene Tunney in 1926. Dempsey, was, as Johnson observed, a lazy world champion. Johnson was still fighting exhibitions at age 67.
Question: what if ‘The Galveston Giant’ Jack Johnson had fought ‘The Manassa Mauler’ Jack Dempsey in his prime, a super match like Muhammad Ali versus Rocky Marciano?
The answer is found in the probable length of the bout. Johnson versus Dempsey would have been a 20 rounder, and Dempsey, who had gone 15 in the past, could easily have gone 20 in his prime. Johnson accused Dempsey of fighting too many white stiffs. Johnson also held a low opinion of Joe Louis’ ability, who he felt he could easily outbox in his prime.
Dempsey did a brutal job beating up Jess Willard, who had won the title by knocking out the aging Johnson. Johnson beat Fireman Jim Flynn, who later knocked out Dempsey- before Dempsey won a rematch. The more active fighter also gets a slight advantage.
Key to this matchup is how well Johnson in his prime could outbox a ferocious Dempsey from the outside. If Dempsey were to get inside, this would tip the tempo of the fight in his favor. Gene Tunney did outbox Dempsey twice, though Tunney almost caved in to Jack Dempsey’s power. Against defensive Frank Moran, Johnson was unable to take him out.
In a 20 round fight, Johnson would be favored over Dempsey to win by decision under the old rules, meaning you could knock a man down again as soon as he got up. This was the rule Dempsey blew against Tunney in the battle of ‘the long count’. In a 15 round fight, Johnson would be favored to win over Johnson under the new rules. Promoter Tex Rickard just cashed in on Dempsey’s popularity. Johnson was a superior technical fighter, and very strong. Johnson versus Dempsey would feature wrestling for position advantage. Dempsey avoided black fighters. Against fat white fighter Willie Meehan, Dempsey won only one of five bouts (one win, two losses and two draws). Dempsey would have lost to Sam Langford and Harry Wills, but might have beaten Kid Norfolk, the great black fighters of his era.
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