Boxing Book: Dempsey In Nevada

A new book focusing on an unknown chapter in the life of one of boxing’s greatest heavyweight champions has been published in America by Jack Bacon & Co.

Jack Dempsey’s first trip to Nevada came as he clung to the underbelly of a train, a dangerous practice known as “riding the rods” and utilized by those too poor to purchase a ticket for one of the passenger cars. In later years, Dempsey, the heavyweight boxing champion from 1919 to 1926, returned to a hero’s welcome with newspapermen, children and divorcees following his every move.

Many people are surprised to learn that Dempsey once called Nevada home. Little remains to commemorate that time other than the yellowed archives of Nevada newspapers and the memories of a handful of old-timers. The fact is, Dempsey left footprints all over the Silver State.

Dempsey In Nevada is an untold chapter in Nevada’s history and an untold story in the life of one of the great sports figures of the 20th Century.

Dempsey helped usher in the era referred to as “The Golden Age of Sport.” Along with baseball’s Babe Ruth, football’s Red Grange, golf’s Bobby Jones and tennis’ Bill Tilden, Dempsey was a giant of the era and made more money in a single fight than all the others combined.

Babe Ruth’s largest salary with the Yankees was $85,000. Dempsey made $717,000 for his first fight with Gene Tunney. He lost his fortune in the stock market crash of 1929 and set about reclaiming it with Reno as his base in the early 1930s, first as a fight promoter and then, once again, as a fighter as he set out to reclaim the heavyweight championship.

Famed Boxing Historian and esteemed journailst Bert Sugar read the book and said, “Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about Jack Dempsey, along comes Guy Clifton with his ‘Dempsey in Nevada’ book giving you a rare look at the man who was the most famous sports personality of the early 20th century, in an extremely interesting and never before seen read. It’s a new way of looking at an old legend.”

“Guy Clifton’s meticulously researched and wonderfully illustrated volume captures virtually everything you wanted to know about boxing great Jack Dempsey in Nevada,” said Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha.

Guy Clifton, a third generation Nevadan, has been a sportswriter since 1982, receiving state, regional and national awards for his writing. He is currently a senior reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Dempsey in Nevada is his fourth book. He has also written “Reno Rodeo: A History,” and two volumes of “You Know You’re A Nevadan If …”