BoxRec

Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis ?

goose 5 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 21:00 Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis ?

Dempsey by a long way, he was the first boxer to cross over into the mainstream.

As far as sheer popularity. Dempsey is one of the faces on the Sports Mount Rushmore.

Dempsey, Tyson and Ali are surely 3 of the most talked about. written about and otherwise discussed fighters in the Sports history. Not sure who you'd have 4th to round out the list, but those 3 are no brainers in terms of Boxing Celebrity.

- Big George by far, a far cry to the surly bully image given to him by clueless sportswriters.

Made a freaking fortune out of being a one off freak of nature that is not likely to be replicated in our lifetimes...

BroughtonRulesRefuge wrote: ↑21 Feb 2026, 14:24 - Big George by far, a far cry to the surly bully image given to him by clueless sportswriters.

Made a freaking fortune out of being a one off freak of nature that is not likely to be replicated in our lifetimes...

Yeah it may well be George. He became a Spokesman for a sh*t load of stuff. A TV Commentator, and just an all around recognizable face.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Feb 2026, 14:40

BroughtonRulesRefuge wrote: ↑21 Feb 2026, 14:24 - Big George by far, a far cry to the surly bully image given to him by clueless sportswriters.

Made a freaking fortune out of being a one off freak of nature that is not likely to be replicated in our lifetimes...

Yeah it may well be George. He became a Spokesman for a sh*t load of stuff. A TV Commentator, and just an all around recognizable face.

Don’t forget his grill !!

goose 5 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026, 21:00 Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis ?

Dempsey. Though Louis was popular.

Dempsey.

As far as runners-up, all those named are good examples. I would add Rocky Graziano to that list.

the Bronx Bull Jake LaMotta

Archie Moore became pretty well known after he retired from boxing.

Caractacus wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 16:17 Archie Moore became pretty well known after he retired from boxing.

Oh you mean the all time KO King who was often introduced alongside George Foreman, and appeared in many movies. Yeah he's kinda famous I guess. Some people still remember that guy I think.

The Heavyweight Mt Rushmore:
Muhammad Ali
Jack Dempsey
Joe Louis
Mike Tyson/Jack Johnson

John L. Sullivan ?

goose 5 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 20:27 John L. Sullivan ?

For the 19th Century, I guess.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 21:09

goose 5 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 20:27 John L. Sullivan ?

For the 19th Century, I guess.

I don't know if a lot of people continued to remember his name exactly, but his image has certainly endured. The image of John L. Sullivan in that old timey Boxing stance is a familiar one that I've seen on many things throughout my life. Even Pickle Jars

gilgamesh wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 07:20

elmersalsa wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 21:09

goose 5 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2026, 20:27 John L. Sullivan ?

For the 19th Century, I guess.

I don't know if a lot of people continued to remember his name exactly, but his image has certainly endured. The image of John L. Sullivan in that old timey Boxing stance is a familiar one that I've seen on many things throughout my life. Even Pickle Jars

True. He’s iconic in that way.
In certain parts of the states he was always remembered and talked about by Irish Americans.
I learned about him from my grandfather at a young age. His legend endured