Jack Dempsey -vs- Jack Sharkey 7/21/27 part 3

[Slickdapj]

Think about it. An over-the-hill Jack Dempsey KOs two hall of fame fighters in successive fights. Oh, I know, the battle of the long count was won by Tunney, but Dempsey KOd him as sure as we are sitting here. Tunney doesn't look up until the count of 9. He'd never have made it, and even if he had, Dempsey finishes him without the extra 7-8 seconds. Never mind Tunney "won" 9 rounds, a puncher just needs the one. Dempsey was a hell of a fighter.

[1saxonwolf]

Some of the best examples of inside fighting you'll ever see. Vicious shovels hooks transitioning from body to head. Classic Dempsey. Best ever.

[capablemachine]

Boy that's not on. He had Sharkey's arm locked just before he hit him.

[Slickdapj]

Dempsey had thumped Sharkey's body all fight long. He had knocked him down with a body shot at the end of Round 3. I don't blame Sharkey for whining to the Ref, he was tired of getting hit in the tummy.

Sharkey landed a few low ones as well, esp in Round 5. Dempsey didn't blink, he just bored back in and thumped Sharkey's body some more.



[Tony92981]

Protect Yourself At All Times!!!

[billthestinker]

thanks for posting this. Sharkey had a lapse perhaps from a low shot and bam short left hook/uppercut and lights out

[allanini]

Is that last right by Dempsey a bit low?

[MrBumboclart]

@allanini Dempsey could be a little "rough" inside so I'd guess so. But it's no more illegal than the blow Sharkey landed after the bell at the end of round 6

[1saxonwolf]

You r probably right. Dempsey said after Willard it was down hill. The reports for Gibbons fight indicate it took a while to get in sync. Black HW contenders J. Thompson & G. Godfrey were sparring partners said to give as much as they got early on. They were scheduled to fight on under card. At end of camp as Jack progressed he was regularly knocking them down. Godfrey 260 lbs. Under card cancelled because Godfrey's broken ribs via Dempsey. In 23"he still had it, by 26" he slipped quite a bit.

[RivJohnson101]

clearly hitting on the break after punching him in the cods , Demps was such a dirty fighter!

[1899sharkey]

Apast his prime Dempsey wears down and k.o.'s an outstanding future champion, further proof of Dempseys greatness!

[1saxonwolf]

@1899sharkey Watching this over & over I'm sure Dempsey's body work was wearing Sharkey down. It was only a matter of time. Dempsey's plan was body work. Proved to be correct. Sharkey was very good, one of his best performances. Both guys punching with brutal power. Flynn had Dempsey more flat footed. A mistake IMO. Left him more vulnerable, less agile, slower of foot. Dempsey was always on his toes before. He brought this to 2nd Tunney fight, didn't help him.

[Muskratrowdy2]

@1saxonwolf I recall reading somewhere that Flynn noticed Dempsey was no longer able to remain on his toes for long periods of time, hence the switch in styles. That 3 year layoff between the Firpo and Tunney fights really hurt Jack. I wonder what would have happened if Dempsey had been active in '22, '24, and '25. He was a fighter who needed to fight more often.

[1saxonwolf]

@Muskratrowdy2 If Dempsey had been active there would be little doubt about who was the Greatest HW ever. Kearns fuked everything up. There would be no * regarding Wills.

No doubt layoff & lifestyle effected him.

He was on his toes for 1st Tunney fight, change occurred here vs Sharkey & continued for Tunney 2. IMO he would have been better on his toes. Legs were gone regardless. Gibbons fight shows his ability to box/fight 15 rnds on toes at a blistering pace. IMO, no doubt, best ever.

[Muskratrowdy2]

@1saxonwolf Even though Dempsey fought a good, fast fight against Gibbons, that was after a 2 year layoff and Jack was only 28. For Tunney #1, there was a 3 year layoff and he was 31. If Dempsey had fought Wills in '24, someone else in '25, who knows, maybe he would have beat Tunney. I really think we saw the last of prime Dempsey in '21 after the Carpentier fight.

[owenswift]

great footage. thank you !! dempsey was quite slick with his head movement. two tremendous fighters