Are Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Jack Dempsey The Most Overrated Fighters?
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Jack Dempsey, ‘The Manassa Mauler’, and Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr. certainly are two of the most famous names of the sport of boxing, two fighters whose popularity cannot be topped in their respective eras.
Jack Dempsey held the World Heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926, figuring into eight consecutive world championship bouts. Dempsey beat Jess Willard, who won the title from Jack Johnson. Dempsey knocked out Fireman Jim Flynn, who defeated Sam Langford. Yet Dempsey never fought Langford or Johnson. Dempsey is best remembered for being pushed back into the ring after getting knocked out of it by Angel Luis Firpo, and standing over Gene Tunney in their second confrontation in ‘The Battle of the Long Count’ when Dempsey forgot to go to the neutral corner under the new rules.
Dempsey was overrated in one sense, but he was the best of the best of heavyweights, and the most talented, in his time. He also fought a series of exhibitions during World War II, though he never challenged Joe Louis, the heavyweight champion at that time.
Dempsey versus ‘The Orchid Man’, George Carpentier, was professional boxing’s first million dollar gate. A proposed bout between Dempsey and the great Harry Wills never took place because checks bounced which were supposed to secure the bout. Dempsey fought between 1914 and 1927. His final record as a heavyweight was 54 wins, six losses, and nine draws, with 44 knockouts. He also won four newspaper decisions and drew two.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is somewhat overrated, however the verdict is not out yet. Better known for making money and being a top flight promoter, Floyd has yet to cement his legacy as a boxing legend in terms of his legacy. Floyd is a super fighter, but he never actually fought a world class boxer of reputation. His bout on May 2, 2015, against Manny Pacquiao will be Floyd’s first real test of note against a boxer the world believes could and should beat him. Floyd’s performance will be the first step in determining how Floyd will be judged as a welterweight and junior middleweight boxer in the court of boxing history.
Known as ‘Pretty Boy’, Floyd’s record currently stands at 47-0. His record, ultimately, will prove less important than his performance against Pacquiao. Win, lose or draw, how Floyd does against Pacman will determine whether or not he will be considered, like the late Jack Dempsey, to be a great boxer or of overrated ability based on the quality of the opposition.
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