Jack Johnson vs Jack Dempsey

[IamInuit]

Lets be honest. Dempsey would have ducked Johnson just as he essentially ducked all the black fighters in his prime.

[bigstinkybug]

*I tend to think that Johnson would've been a handfull for any fighter in any era... prime against prime, u really have to be a fool to go against Johnson. We will never know just how strong he was... rumor was he held back so that he could get fights, that's why he fought the same guy over and over again many times ... many say that he could've killed fighters in the ring.. that and the fact that he was black... and dating white woman.. and smart. lol, the guy was the first"original G"... there's no way of knowing just how talented he was. I'd pick Johnson over alot of heavyweights...

[Mars_ax]

Who knows, Johnson was as tough as they come in his prime and so was Dempsey who destroyed Willard. Granted Johnson was way past his prime when Willard beat him, but it does make you think that the Mananas Mauler would have had a punchers chance. This is one of those fights that boxing fans have already debated for the last 90 plus years.

Good thread.

[IamInuit]

Who knows, Johnson was as tough as they come in his prime and so was Dempsey who destroyed Willard. Granted Johnson was way past his prime when Willard beat him, but it does make you think that the Mananas Mauler would have had a punchers chance. This is one of those fights that boxing fans have already debated for the last 90 plus years.

Good thread.

Willard was a tree trunk with a tad of new growth flailing in the wind. Dempsey ducked Langford and just about anybody else with a different shade. Greb was the only one over that time frame the crossed the colour barrier. Btw Dempsey ducked him also.

[Mars_ax]

Who knows, Johnson was as tough as they come in his prime and so was Dempsey who destroyed Willard. Granted Johnson was way past his prime when Willard beat him, but it does make you think that the Mananas Mauler would have had a punchers chance. This is one of those fights that boxing fans have already debated for the last 90 plus years.

Good thread.

Willard was a tree trunk with a tad of new growth flailing in the wind. Dempsey ducked Langford and just about anybody else with a different shade. Greb was the only one over that time frame the crossed the colour barrier. Btw Dempsey ducked him also.

I'm not so sure Dempsey ducked anyone, perhaps it was Tex Richard and Jack Kearns who thought that these might be a high risk, low financial reward fights when Dempsey was champion. I'd like to believe that Jack would fight anyone they put in front of him, whether or not he would have won is a different story. Dempsey says as much in his many bios, but who really knows.

[Vendettos]

Johnson wins, I've never rated Dempsey very highly.

[imp]

Johnson wins, I've never rated Dempsey very highly.

I agree.

Also the comment about johnson holding back in the majority of fights is true. He could have been killed anytime as he was so hated in and out of the ring.

[Ubertroy]

Johnson would have been motivated and prepared for Dempsey. But that would not have been enough. Even during his prime, which was actually before he won the title, Johnson would have his hands full against an aggressive prime Dempsey. Styles make fights and, while Johnson could certainly outbox Dempsey, he would always have trouble with Dempsey's aggressive style.
.
A fight at this time would have been much like Tyson v Holmes. The wiser Johnson would use his skill to ward Dempsey off early. But Johnson would never be able to keep it up. Dempsey would break through at some point in time and put an end to the matter.
.
Dempsey by KO in 4.
.

If both met during their respective primes, in 3 separate scenarios, I see Johnson taking the series 2/3, winning two on points and Dempsey one by KO.