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Jack Dempsey with his 1924 McFarlan C. 1924 *M.W.*

Biography

Jack Dempsey

Overview

  • Born
    June 24, 1895 · Manassa, Colorado, USA
  • Died
    May 31, 1983 · New York City, New York, USA (heart failure)
  • Birth name
    William Harrison Dempsey
  • Nicknames
    • The Manassa Mauler
    • Tiger
    • Kid Blackie
  • Height
    6′ 0¾″ (1.85 m)

Mini bio

  • Jack Dempsey's life story could have been a Hollywood script. Born to a dirt-poor farming family, young Dempsey took up boxing with his older brother. Turning professional under the name Kid Blackie, Dempsey fought in saloons, coal-mining towns, back allies, lumberjack camps, and numerous hick and tank towns around the United States. Pocessing speed, toughness, and one-punch knockout power, Dempsey quickly started racking up a series of knockouts. Defeats to "Fireman" Jim Flynn, Willie Meehan, and Jack Downey, kept Dempsey in the minor circuit. It wasn't until he met manager Jack "Doc" Hearns did Dempsey's career take off. After scoring 5 consecutive first round knockouts, Dempsey met Jess Williard for the World's Heavyweight Boxing Title on July 4, 1919. Dempsey butchered the 6 ft 6 inch 270 pound Williard, knocking him down seven times in round one, and finally stopping him in the third. Dempsey became the first fighter to generate a million dollar gate. His knockouts over Luis Firpo and George Carpienter are legendary. He lost his tile after almost 7 years to Gene Tunney. Lost to Tunney in the "Battle of the Long Count" and retired. In 1931, at 36, Jack Dempsey announced his comeback and fought hundreds of exhibitions. He knocked-out over 40 opponents, sometimes 3 or 4 in one night. In 1940, at 45, he returned for the final time and knocked out 3 opponents in one month. Dempsey went on to run his famous restaurant on Broadway for almost 50 years.
    - IMDb mini biography by: angelsunchained

Family

  • Spouses
      Deanna Piatelli(1964 - May 31, 1983) (his death, 1 child)
      Hannah Williams(July 18, 1933 - July 7, 1943) (divorced, 2 children)
      Estelle Taylor(February 7, 1925 - September 21, 1931) (divorced)
      Maxine Gates(October 9, 1916 - February 4, 1919) (divorced)

Trivia

  • One night while in his mid-seventies, Dempsey was leaving his New York restaurant as two young men attempted to mug him. Dempsey held them until the NYPD arrived.
  • He knocked-out millionaire Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted to see "what it would be like to spar with the heavyweight champion".
  • Former heavyweight boxing champ/actor.
  • World heavyweight boxing champion, 1919-1926. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990.
  • 1927 rematch against Gene Tunney known as "the long count." Dempsey knocked Tunney down for 14 to 18 seconds in the 7th round, but the referee did not start his count immediately, so Tunney got the extra time, then got up at 9 and went on to win the fight.

Quotes

  • Kill the other guy before he kills you.
  • [on Rudolph Valentino] He was the most virile and masculine of men. The women were like flies to a honey pot. He could never shake them off when he went out. What a lovely, lucky guy!

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