Joe Louis was probably the most loved fighter of all time. His funeral was almost a state affair and touched people all over the world.
How were the deaths of other past champions recieved. Johnson? Dempsey? Were both colourful characters. How was the news recieved? Was anything done to acknowledge their passing?
Ironically, despite all the discrimination at the time, Jack Johnson got buried in Chicago's most prestigious cemetery, Graceland. Chicago's wealthiest citizens got buried there, and Bob Fitzsimmons is just across the road.
Are there many TV shows with the old greats on? Dempsey was fairly charismatic and lived into the TV age. The popularity of boxing was such that I'd expect these old champs to be very popular long after they ceased fighting in the ring.
When John L died the ground was ice frozen and they had to use dinamite blasting caps to open a hole which made Jake Kilrain exclaim that John L would have liked that...
