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Biography of Jack DempseyName: Jack DempseyBirth Date: June 24, 1895 Death Date: May 31, 1983 Place of Birth: Manassa, Colorado, United States Nationality: American Gender: Male Occupations: boxer, businessman Jack Dempsey One of the world's greatest heavyweight boxers, William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (1895-1983) was so popular that he drew more million-dollar gates than any prizefighter in history.William Harrison Dempsey, more commonly known as "Jack" after age 20, was born in Manassa, Colorado, on June 24, 1895, the ninth child of Hyrum and Cecilia Dempsey, both sharecroppers. The family was so poor that Jack began farming at the age of 8. From age 16 to 19 he lived in hobo jungles.Dempsey's early boxing often took place in back rooms of frontier saloons under the name "Kid Blackie." His first fight of record was in 1915 against "One-Punch" Hancock. Dempsey's one-punch win earned him .50; his highest purse. Eleven years later his purse was 1,000 for his first match with Gene Tunney. Eventually called the "Manassa Mauler," Dempsey earned more than ,500,000 in all in the ring.Dempsey's appeal lay in his punching ability: he was a ruthless tiger stalking his prey, …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…in New York City. After the outbreak of World War II, Dempsey joined the Coast Guard, serving as director of the physical fitness program. As the war drew to a close in the Pacific, he was sent on a three month's tour of combat areas to assess needs for athletic and physical training.During his time as a highly respected restaurateur on Broadway, Dempsey enjoyed a fantastic popularity, revered as one of the true titans of American sports. He died on May 31, 1983. Further Reading The most authoritative book on Dempsey is his autobiography, Dempsey, written with Bob Considine and Bill Slocum (1960). A recent biography is Roger Kahn, A Flame of Pure Fire (1999). The best statistical background is in Nat Fleischer's Ring Record Book (1970). Dempsey's manager, Jack "Doc" Kearns, appraises him in The Million Dollar Gate, written with Oscar Fraley (1966). The second Dempsey-Tunney fight is in Mel Heimer, The Long Count (1969). |