If Firpo Beat Dempsey... What if?

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 12 Sep 2005, 01:13

if jack dempsey was not pushed back into the ring by the announcers at the fight, would boxing as we know it be changed? would dempsey have lost his godlike status? would firpo have been a great champion?... how different would we rank our fighters in history, and were would these 2 fall in if firpo won. as much as i love dempsey, it was a little cheap that he won this fight considering that firpo wold have certainly knocked him out. i just wanna know hwat u guys think woulda happened to boxing if firpo won?.. woudl we mention him in the top 10? and dempsey maybe in the top 15? how would things change....

klompton · Post by **klompton** » 12 Sep 2005, 02:06

Firpo would have defended against Wills and the American public wouldnt have had as much of a problem with as Firpo was a foreigner and Wills, though black, was American. Wills would have dominated Firpo like he eventuallly did and would have become champion. The other possibility is that since Firpo was Tex Rickards promotional baby he would have protected Firpo and turned him into a man-killing gate attraction much like he did with Dempsey.

sharkeysboy · Post by **sharkeysboy** » 12 Sep 2005, 04:41

Klompton wrote a pretty good piece of alternative history there. It very well might have happened that way. Although, his logic that the American public and media would have preferred an American black to a foreigner is a debateble subject. The racism of the time was so thick you couldn't cut it with a buzz saw. This is a time when Judge Landis was going out of his way to say that the white leagues should never intergrate. He said intergration would be as much a threat to the intergrity of the game as gambling. Only one African American was allowed to fight for a title in the 20's, Tiger Flowers, who beat Greb.

Sherlock · Post by **Sherlock** » 12 Sep 2005, 06:48

Firpo would have been an awful champ, making no defenses. People would have derated him because he went down 7 times in the first and won on a fluke. Most likely Dempsey gets another shot and destroys him in a rematch, becomes the first champion to regain the title and retire with an even higher rating.

And Rory, you think if Dempsey had fallen in the ring Jack could have beaten the count?

dws · Post by **dws** » 12 Sep 2005, 12:06

[quote="Sherlock"]Firpo would have been an awful champ, making no defenses. People would have derated him because he went down 7 times in the first and won on a fluke. Most likely Dempsey gets another shot and destroys him in a rematch, becomes the first champion to regain the title and retire with an even higher rating.

This is exactly was I was going to say,Jack got a little careless rushing in to finish Firpo,who as was stated had already been down numerous times.Dempsey got up and destroyed Firpo,I'm not so sure Jack needed much help to get back in the ring.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 12 Sep 2005, 15:04

actually I am almost positive he did need the help or he would have got up to late. Jack is a much better fighter than firpo, i am suprised he would practically get knocked out like that. well jack didnt have the greatest chin.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 12 Sep 2005, 15:09

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:actually I am almost positive he did need the help or he would have got up to late. Jack is a much better fighter than firpo, i am suprised he would practically get knocked out like that. well jack didnt have the greatest chin.

Yes, you are correct, Dempsey didn't have the "greatest chin". Like Marciano, he had a very good chin, but it wasn't as good as, say George Chuvalo.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 12 Sep 2005, 16:51

Please tell who else had Chuvalos chin? The guy was a Palooka who could absorb a car crash and keep coming.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 12 Sep 2005, 17:53

if george chuvalo was hit by a car, i doubt he would fall down from the impact.

what does it take to knock chuvalo down???? a bulldozer??

klompton · Post by **klompton** » 12 Sep 2005, 19:28

Chuvalo was knocked down twice against Bonavena. Mercante blew the calls and called them slips but both were KDs.

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 12 Sep 2005, 23:02

jake lamotta was the same..

Cojimar 1945 · Post by **Cojimar 1945** » 13 Sep 2005, 01:03

I thought Oliver McCall was claimed by some to have the best chin of any heavyweight.

theone · Post by **theone** » 14 Sep 2005, 07:46

Watch the tape again. Dempsey fell out the ring from a shove not a punch.

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 14 Sep 2005, 10:26

Calling George Chuvalo a palooka is a moronic statement.

The man was a top contender for years and fought the best in the division and beat some of them while always putting 100 % and never disgracing himself. He did not quit in a corner -like the Klitchkos- because of an injury or throw a tantrum with lame excuses when he lost a bout.

Let's respect a fine gladiator...

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 14 Sep 2005, 11:08

theone dempsey fell out of the ring because of a shove but he was hurt badly from a right hand followed by a hard combo that drove him into the ropes. and dempsey was staggered and wouldnt have made the count IMO if ringsiders didnt help him

theone · Post by **theone** » 14 Sep 2005, 17:34

I agree brockton, just wanted to mention the shove in case for those who still believe it was a punch.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 14 Sep 2005, 18:37

Hey Enrique Suave, I have nothing but respect for Chuvalo, maybe it's a generational thing but Palooka means no disrespect it means durable. However I have heard it used as a slam that's not my dialect. Please read my offering carefully speaks to pure durability.

Capiche?