Very Good Marciano Article

[greynotsoold]

"I have consistently championed Jack Dempsey as the heavyweight who had the most of everything."

Bullshit he did. Joe Louis would have beat the holy shit out of him.

I agree with that, I think Joe louis was the best at that weight. But a lot of guys that saw both say that Dempsey was better. My personal opinion on that is the difference in styles. Louis was very measured and methodical, while Dempsey was very violent in his approach.

[Beanflicker]

My personal opinion on that is the difference in styles. Louis was very measured and methodical, while Dempsey was very violent in his approach.

Yeah that sounds about right. If they were old enough to watch both, chances are (coming from that time) they weren't too keen on rating a black champion over a white champion either.

I always thought Dempsey was over-rated, and after reading "A Flame of Pure Fire" I get the feeling that Kearns protected him well (especially against strong/slick black fighters). His skills are archiac and a true ring general like Louis would have smashed him. Tunney exposed him as a brawler in my eyes.

[Master]

Dempsey was a vicious heavyweight in his prime and I think at his best he would have beaten Tunney but got civilised and aged. Dempsey was selective with who he fought and treated the fights as exhibitions to bring in extra money as and when he required.

Think Rocky beats him in a classic war.

[Beanflicker]

Think Rocky beats him in a classic war.

Yup yup!

[greynotsoold]

My personal opinion on that is the difference in styles. Louis was very measured and methodical, while Dempsey was very violent in his approach.

Yeah that sounds about right. If they were old enough to watch both, chances are (coming from that time) they weren't too keen on rating a black champion over a white champion either.

I always thought Dempsey was over-rated, and after reading "A Flame of Pure Fire" I get the feeling that Kearns protected him well (especially against strong/slick black fighters). His skills are archiac and a true ring general like Louis would have smashed him. Tunney exposed him as a brawler in my eyes.

He was certainly protected; he was the meal ticket for a whole boatload of people, and he kept them fed very well for a very long time. On his way up, he fought and beat every contender. Even when he was champ, I don't believe Dempsey would have protected himself, because he was a fighter, but he was also a professional fighter and it is a money game.
I have a standard answer for anybody that says Dempsey's skills are archaic, over-rated, non-existent, etc...Go read up on the "Dempsey Triples", learn what they are and how to do those moves. Then walk into any gym in this world, and start busting out the Dempsey Triples on the heavy bag- not sparring, not in the ring, just on the bag- and I guarantee you that every eye in that place will be on you. If you were to pull a "Triple" off in sparring, there would be people throwing money at you.