Evander Holyfield vs Rocky Marciano, primes....

[The Great John L]

I dont think Dempsey clean out the divsion pre title like say Liston did.

Liston didn't beat Cleroux, and I'm sure if I spent a little time I could find a few other credible top ranked guys that Liston didn't beat. I'm not ragging on Liston, who did beat the top guys at the time, just trying to point out that there's always someone left, and Dempsey did just about as well as any other HW in history with his run up to the title.

[Ezzard]

Dempsey cleaned out the division before being champ in a way that was comparable to say Liston or Tyson (if you think of him becoming champ after beating Spinks). These guys were champs well before they actually won the championship (if you follow my messed up logic). There are plenty of top contenders on Dempsey’s record, just most of them come before he won the title.

A guy like Willard gets laughed at now but he would have been a formidable fighter in a 45 round fight.

I think Dempsey did more than enough to be considered one of the great HW champs. Up until the 1960s Dempsey versus Louis was often the match-up to go to for the greatest of all-time.

You mean he clean out the WHITE part of the divsion right?? Harry Wills sure didnt get his shot at Willard, nor a pre title shot vs the up and coming Jack Dempsey.

Johnson and Louis didn't fight many black contenders once they became champs.

I think you need to look at it in terms of contenders.

Everyone misses a contender or two. It's a shame for the fans. But Dempsey is not alone.