Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey (1895–1983) was an American boxer, heavyweight world champion from 1919 to 1926, and author of the book Championship Fighting, in which he described the Dempsey Roll.
Quick Facts
United StatesBiography
Jack Dempsey, born William Harrison Dempsey, was born on 24 June 1895 in Manassa, Colorado, one of thirteen children. From 1919 to 1926 he was the professional heavyweight world champion.
As a child he worked as a drifter, ditch digger, fruit picker, lumberjack and circus laborer; he left home at 16. Under the nicknames Kid Blackie and Young Dempsey, he challenged saloon patrons to fights for money.
He boxed professionally from 1914 to 1927, with a record of 84 fights, 68 wins (53 by knockout), 6 losses and 10 draws. On 4 July 1919 in Toledo he defeated Jess Willard and won the world title. On 2 July 1921 he defeated Georges Carpentier in the first fight with gate receipts over one million dollars ($1,789,238). His bobbing-and-weaving style with continuous attacks contributed to the introduction of the neutral-corner rule. In 1950 he published the book Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, in which he described the Falling Step and Dempsey Roll techniques.
He lost the title on 23 September 1926 in Philadelphia to Gene Tunney, and on 22 September 1927 he also lost the rematch in Chicago, known as The Long Count Fight. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the Coast Guard Reserve, reaching the rank of commander. In 1954 he became a founding member of the Hall of Fame of The Ring magazine. He died on 31 May 1983 in New York of heart failure at the age of 87.
Associated Martial Arts
Achievements and honours
- World Heavyweight Champion (boxing)Professional title · 1919
- The Ring Magazine Hall of FameHall of Fame · 1954