Cap, I agree that Ai would have won.Cap wrote: ↑06 Jul 2021, 10:02 Ali by easy decision if he doesn't force a stoppage before that. Most, if not all, of the big men Dempsey fought on the way up were carny freaks, left over from the 'White Hope' era. He beat little Georges Carpentier who lost to every good fighter he went up against. He nearly lost to a one-armed built up stumble-bum in Firpo. He nearly lost to Bill Brennan, a fringe contender at best. He drew the colour line after he won the title and ducked middleweight Harry Greb but fought Tommy Gibbons and couldn't put the middleweight away.
Dempsey was an exciting fighter. The sportswriters loved him and helped Tex Rickard create his ferocious personna, but he wasn't the same fighter after he beat Willard. Doc Kearns made sure no real threat would cross Dempsey's path. He even hired guys like Jack Renault as sparring partners to discourage them from challenging his meal ticket. [Renault even went along to Hollywood with Dempsey and joined in the wild parties and film making, and was never the same after].
A prime Ali would destroy a prime Dempsey like the one who beat Willard.
Having said that, you really aren't being fair to Dempsey.
Dempsey did not by any means have an easy ride to title on his way up.
Fulton and Morris were serious contenders.
Carpentier beat several good fighters. Levinsky, Beckett, Smith etc. Also gave Jeannette a tough fight.)
Dempsey didn't almost lose to Brennan, who was more than a fringe contender.
Gibbons was a light heavyweight, not a middleweight.
Firpo while obviously having flaws, was a good fighter. He beat some good fighters.
Dempsey did not duck Harry Greb.
