Editing Jack Dempsey (section)

==Early life and career==
===Early life and family background===
Dempsey was born in Manassa, Colorado and grew up in Colorado, West Virginia, and Utah, in a poor family. His parents were Mary Celia (née Smoot) and Hiram Dempsey, and his ancestry included Scottish, Irish, Cherokee, and a Jewish paternal great-great-grandmother. Both of his parents became Mormon converts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2024 |title=William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Jack-Dempsey/6000000001650703755 |archive-date= |website=Geni.com}}</ref> “I am basically Irish, with Cherokee blood from both parents, plus a Jewish strain from my father’s great-grandmother.” Jack Dempsey

His grandfather William A. Dempsey, of [[Logan County, West Virginia]], identified his son John Dempsey Jr. of Mud Fork of Island Creek as executor of his last will and testament dated May 1, 1875. Upon payment of his debts and funeral expenses, he directed that his wife Mahulda receive the balance of his personal property while his six children receive an equal share of his real estate. His last will and testament, as witnessed by Estella, John, and Hiram Dempsey, was presented to the Logan County clerk on August 10, 1875.<ref>{{cite book |title=Will Book 1 |location=Logan County Clerk's Office (Logan, West Virginia) |pages=7}}</ref>

Hiram and Celia Dempsey, parents to Jack, left West Virginia in 1887. One newspaper referred to them as "active workers" for the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{cite news |title="Manassa, Colorado, Dempsey's Old Home" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia |date=9 September 1927}}</ref>

Dempsey was baptized into [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],<ref name="bookref1">{{cite book |first1=Roger |last1=Kahn |title=A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and the Roaring '20s |year=1999 |type=Paperback |page=175 |publisher=Mariner Books, [[Harcourt, Inc.|Harcourt, Inc]] |location=San Diego |isbn=0156014149}}</ref> in 1903 following his eighth birthday, the "age of accountability", according to church doctrine.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/tg/accountability-age-of?lang=eng Topical Guide; Accountability, Age of]. churchofjesuschrist.org – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</ref>

Hiram Dempsey and his family returned to Logan County <ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2011-12-02 |title=Jack Dempsey's Childhood Home |url=https://loganwv.us/jack-dempsey/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Logan County, WV History |language=en-US}}</ref>when Jack was a small boy where he was raised until shortly before commencement of his boxing career. Said the ''Logan Banner'': "While he was a mere child, they returned to Logan county. Jack remained here until a young man, having been employed by the Gay Coal and Coke Company as late as 1913, and then went west alone to seek pugilistic fortune. He met [[Jack Kearns]] on the Pacific coast, from which point his spectacular climb to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division furnished the sport with one of its most romantic episodes."<ref name="Logan Banner Logan, West Virginia">{{cite news |title="Jack Dempsey's Mother Pays Visit to Logan" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia  |date=9 September 1927}}</ref> In January 1924, the ''Banner'' reported on Dempsey's trip from New York to [[Florida]], stating that he "used to call Logan home."<ref>{{cite news |title="Dempsey Goes South for Early Training" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia  |date=4 January 1924}}</ref> In August 1926, the ''Banner'' reported how local boxer Bear Cat Clemons sparred two rounds per day with Dempsey at [[Saratoga Lake, New York]], remarking: "When Dempsey and Clemons face each other in the squared circle, it is Logan county versus Logan county."<ref>{{cite news |title="Bear Cat Clemons in Training Camp with Jack Dempsey" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia  |date=20 August 1926}}</ref>

''The Banner'', in a small September 1926 item, provided more history about Dempsey's Logan County roots: "The Dempsey family at one time lived on Mud Fork and another period near the Logan-Mingo line. Many relatives live in the two counties; and they as well as his former friends have taken pride in his prowess and successes. As a boy Jack and O.D. Avis, sports editor of ''The Banner'', used to set up pins in a bowling alley on the Main street corner now occupied by the Logan garage."<ref>{{cite news |title="Dempsey of Logan" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia |date=24 September 1926}}</ref> In June 1927, former Logan County sheriff [[Don Chafin]] traveled to New York City to watch the Dempsey-Sharkey fight. The ''Logan Banner'' reported: "Mr. Chafin has attended every fight in which Dempsey has participated since he won the world's championship in [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]. They have been close friends since Dempsey was a boy and a familiar figure about Logan."<ref>{{cite news |title="To See The Fight" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia |date=19 July 1927}}</ref>

Celia Dempsey, mother to Jack and at that time a resident of [[Utah]], visited [[Huntington, West Virginia|Huntington]] and [[Logan, West Virginia|Logan]] in September 1927. Said the ''[[Logan Banner]]'':

{{blockquote|Interviewed at Huntington Mrs. Dempsey told of her desire to revisit girlhood scenes and inquired about old friends. She spoke of Uncle Dyke Garrett and was pleasantly surprised to learn that he is still living. Uncle Dyke read the interview and despite the nearness of his 86th birthday, came back up from his home back of [[Chapmanville, West Virginia|Chapmanville]] to welcome Mrs. Dempsey. This beloved old mountain minister never knew Jack Dempsey, but he remembers Jack's mother as a girl, her maiden name being Cecilia Smoot. She was a daughter of Charles Smoot, who came to Logan from [[Boone County, West Virginia|Boone County]], and who lived and died up on Island Creek. After his death, Mrs. Smoot (Jack Dempsey's grandmother) married Simpson Ellis, who died but a few years ago, after serving a long period on the county court. Scott Justice, who divides his time between Huntington and Logan, was among those who greeted Mrs. Dempsey at the Huntington Hotel yesterday. He remembers the marriage of Hiram Dempsey and Cecilia Smoot, and also recalls that the site on which the town of [[Holden, West Virginia|Holden]] now stands was sold by Hiram Dempsey to Mr. Justice's father when the family decided to migrate westward. According to Mr. Justice, the tract of 200 acres changed hands for a consideration of $600. "Uncle" Enoch Baker was another caller to greet the challenger's mother. Mr. Baker was engaged in business in Logan county when the Dempseys lived here, being well acquainted with the family. While in Logan, Mrs. Dempsey will visit her half-brothers, Don Ellis of Stratton Street, and Joseph and John B. Ellis of Island Creek, and others."<ref name="Logan Banner Logan, West Virginia"/>}}

Mrs. Dempsey spent six days in Logan, quartering at the Aracoma Hotel. Her departure yielded an additional story:

{{blockquote|By the time they reached [[Sharples, West Virginia|Sharples]], Mrs. Dempsey missed a hatbox containing a $3500 watch, a gift from her famous son, and two valuable rings. They returned at once to Logan and after an anxious search found the missing box with contents undisturbed alongside the Washington apartments. Evidently it had fallen into the street and some passerby had placed it against the building, presumably without knowledge or curiosity as to the nature of its contents. While Mrs. Dempsey seemed to have enjoyed her visit in West Virginia and expressed a hope that she could come back next year for a longer stay, she said she wouldn't want to live back here again because of the difference in climate. However, the people are more sociable here, she added, and are much more friendly upon first acquaintance."<ref>{{cite news |title="Mrs. Dempsey Leaves for Home" |newspaper=[[Logan Banner]] |location=Logan, West Virginia |date=September 27, 1927}}</ref>}}

===Kid Blackie===

Because his father had difficulty finding work, the family traveled often and Dempsey dropped out of elementary school to work and left home at the age of 16. Due to his lack of money, he frequently [[Freighthopping#Riding the rods|rode the rods]] and slept in [[hobo]] camps.<ref name="sfhm">{{Cite news |url=http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |title=The champ fights back |last=Moore |first=Jack B. |date=1992 |work=South Florida History Magazine |access-date=November 17, 2017 |issue=2 |pages=4–7, 25–6 |via=[[HistoryMiami]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313044853/http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-2.pdf |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Desperate for money, Dempsey would occasionally visit saloons and challenge for fights, saying "I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any [[Bitch (slang)#Son of a bitch|SOB]] in the house." If anyone accepted the challenge, bets would be made. According to Dempsey's autobiography, he rarely lost these bar room brawls.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldinsport.com/jack-dempsey-the-manassa-mauler/ |title=Jack Dempsey The Manassa Mauler |date=January 12, 2014 |publisher=worldinsport.com |access-date= January 23, 2014}}</ref> For a short time, Dempsey was a part-time bodyguard for Thomas F. Kearns, president of ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'' and son of Utah's U.S. Senator [[Thomas Kearns]].<ref>{{citation |mode=cs1 |url= http://prezi.com/pqx9umqm24q9/roaring-20s-the-life-of-jack-dempsey/ |title=Roaring 20s: The Life of Jack Dempsey |first= Sabrina |last= Boxer |date= December 10, 2012 |access-date= October 4, 2014}}</ref>

Dempsey often fought under the pseudonym, "Kid Blackie", although during his stint in the [[Salt Lake City]] area, he went by "Young Dempsey".<ref name="Round by Round An Autobiography">{{cite book|last1=Dempsey|first1=Jack|title=Round by Round (An Autobiography)|date=1940|publisher=Whittlesey House/McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.|location=New York/London|page=84|edition=pre-ISBN First}}</ref> Much of his early career is not recorded, and stated thus, in ''The Ring Record Book'' as compiled by [[Nat Fleischer]].

===Jack Dempsey===
He first competed as "Jack Dempsey" (by his own recollection) in the fall of 1914, in [[Cripple Creek, Colorado]]. His brother, Bernie, who often fought under the pseudonym "Jack Dempsey"—this a common practice of the day, in fighters' admiration of [[middleweight]] boxer and former champion, [[Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey]]—had signed to fight veteran George Copelin. Upon learning Copelin had sparred with then current world heavyweight champion [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]], and given Bernie Dempsey was nearing 40 years of age, he strategically decided to back out of the fight.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Toby|title=Kid Blackie|date=1987|publisher=Wayfinder Press|location=Ouray, Colorado|isbn=0-9608764-7-2|page=79}}</ref> He substituted his brother, still unknown in Eastern Colorado, as "Jack Dempsey". The fans at ringside immediately knew this was not the man they had paid to see.

The promoter became violently angry and "sailed into us, barehanded", threatening to stop the fight.<ref name="Round by Round An Autobiography"/> Copelin himself, who outweighed Dempsey by 20 lbs. (165 to 145) upon seeing Dempsey's small stature in the ring, warned the promoter, "I might kill that skinny guy." The promoter reluctantly permitted the fight to commence, and in his first outing as "Jack Dempsey", the future champion downed Copelin six times in the first round and twice in the second.{{sfnp|Dempsey|Considine|Slocum|1960|p=49}} From there, it was a battle of attrition ("Neither Bernie nor I had taken into consideration the high altitude at Cripple Creek."), until a last knockdown of Copelin in the seventh moved the referee to make the then-unusual move of stopping the fight once Copelin regained his feet. According to Dempsey "In those days they didn't stop mining-town fights as long as one guy could move."{{sfnp|Dempsey|Considine|Slocum|1960|p=50}} This trial by fire carried with it a $100 purse. The promoter, angered at the switch pulled by the brothers, had laid no promised side bets, "... and even if I did, I wouldn't give you anything."{{sfnp|Smith|1987|p=82}}

Following the name change, Dempsey won six bouts in a row by [[knockout]] before losing on a disqualification in four rounds to Jack Downey. During this early part of his career, Dempsey campaigned in Utah, frequently entering fights in towns in the [[Wasatch range|Wasatch Mountain Range]] region. He followed his loss against Downey with a knockout win and two draws versus Johnny Sudenberg in [[Nevada]]. Three more wins and a draw followed when he met Downey again, this time resulting in a four-round draw. Following these wins, Dempsey racked up 10 more wins that included matches against Sudenberg and Downey, knocking out Downey in two rounds. These wins were followed with three no-decision matches, although at this point in the history of boxing, the use of judges to score a fight was often forbidden,{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} so if a fight went the distance, it was called a draw or a no decision, depending on the state or county where the fight was held.

After the United States entered World War I in 1917, Dempsey worked in a shipyard and continued to box. Afterward, he was accused by some boxing fans of being a [[slacker#World wars|slacker]] for not enlisting. This remained a black mark on his reputation until 1920, when evidence produced showed he had registered with the [[U.S. Army]], but been exempted due to hardship (having a dependent wife).<ref group=upper-alpha>According to Draft Card.{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/atlanta/wwi-draft/dempsey.html |title=World War I Draft Cards: Jack Dempsey |date=August 15, 2016 |publisher=United States National Archives at Atlanta |access-date=July 30, 2021 }}</ref> After the war, Dempsey spent two years in [[Salt Lake City]], "bumming around" as he called it, before returning to the ring.<ref name="Boxing 2004">{{cite book |title=The 12 Greatest Rounds Of Boxing: The Untold Stories |first1=Ferdie |last1=Pacheco |date= 2005 |location=London|publisher=Robson, Trafalgar Square |page=208 |isbn=9781861058058}}</ref>

===World heavyweight champion===
[[File:Jack Dempsey, Harry Houdini and Benny Leonard2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dempsey mock punching [[Harry Houdini]] (held back by [[Benny Leonard]])]]
Among his opponents as a rising contender were [[Fireman Jim Flynn]], the only boxer ever to beat Dempsey by a knockout when Dempsey lost to him in the first round (although some boxing historians believe the fight was a "fix"),<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_dive.html |first1=Monte |last1=Cox |first2=Bob |last2=Soderman |title= Did Jack Dempsey Take a Dive? |publisher=Cox's Corner |access-date= July 16, 2008}}</ref> and [[Gunboat Smith]], (who was a formerly highly ranked contender who had beaten both World Champion [[Jess Willard]] and Hall of Famer [[Sam Langford|Sam Langford)]]. Dempsey beat Smith for the third time on a second-round knockout. Dempsey had refused a match with [[Sam Langford]] in 1916. According to Dempsey: "I think Sam Langford was the greatest fighter we ever had."

Before he employed the long-experienced [[Jack Kearns]] as his manager, Dempsey was first managed by John J. Reisler.<ref group=upper-alpha>{{cite news |title='John the Barber' fight mentor, dead. Jack Dempsey's first manager succumbs to an infection of his finger. His wife, reconciled after a long separation, is at the bedside with their children. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/09/16/archives/john-the-barber-fight-mentor-dead-jack-dempseys-first-manager.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 16, 1930|access-date= October 16, 2008}}</ref><ref group=upper-alpha>{{cite news |title=Jack Kearns, manager of Dempsey, dies at 80; Earned and spent a fortune as pilot of six champions. Associated with Rickard life full of drama taught Dempsey left hook Dempsey winner in 15. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/07/08/archives/jack-kearns-manager-of-dempsey-dies-at-80-earned-and-spent-a.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date= July 8, 1963 |access-date= October 16, 2008}}</ref>

One year later, in 1918, Dempsey fought in 17 matches, going 15–1 with one no-decision. One of those fights was with Flynn, who was knocked out by Dempsey, coincidentally, in the first round. Among other matches won that year were against [[Light Heavyweight]] Champion [[Battling Levinsky]], Bill Brennan, Fred Fulton, [[Carl E. Morris]], Billy Miske, heavyweight Lefty Jim McGettigan, and Homer Smith. In 1919, he won five consecutive regular bouts by knockout in the first round as well as a one-round special bout.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9009&cat=boxer |title= Jack Dempsey |work= BoxRec.com |access-date= December 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150415192748/http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=9009&cat=boxer |archive-date= April 15, 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

===Title fight and controversy===
On July 4, 1919, Dempsey and world heavyweight champion [[Jess Willard]] met at [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] for the world title. Pro lightweight fighter [[Benny Leonard]] predicted a victory for the 6'1", 187-pound Dempsey even though Willard, known as the "Pottawatamie Giant", was 6'{{frac|6|1|2}}" tall and 245 pounds. Ultimately, Willard was knocked down seven times by Dempsey in the first round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/179547-10-notable-july-4-fights/10 | title=Notable July 4th fights | work=The Ring | date=July 4, 2013 | access-date=January 24, 2015 | first=Lee | last=Groves | archive-date=September 4, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904130130/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/179547-10-notable-july-4-fights/10 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Accounts of the fight reported that Willard suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs, several broken teeth, and a number of deep fractures to his facial bones. This aroused suspicion that Dempsey had cheated, with some questioning how the force capable of causing such damage had been transmitted through Dempsey's knuckles without fracturing them.<ref name="Boxing 2004"/>

Other reports, however, failed to mention Willard suffered any real injuries.<ref name="coxscorner.tripod.com">{{cite web |url=http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_gloves.html |title=Were Dempsey's Gloves Loaded? You Decide! |first1=Monte D. |last1=Cox |first2=John A. |last2=Bardelli |first3=Bob |last3=Caico |first4=Jeff |last4=Cox |first5=Dan |last5=Cuoc |first6=Chuck |last6=Johnston |first7=Clay |last7=Moyle |first8=Frank |last8=Stallone |first9=Miles |last9=Ugarkovich |display-authors= 4 |date= December 1, 2004|access-date= July 11, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} account of the fight described severe swelling visible on one side of Willard's face, but did not mention any broken bones.<ref>The New York Times. July 5, 1919. Saturday Section: Sports, p. 18.</ref> A still photograph of Willard following the fight appears to show discoloration and swelling on his face.<ref name="Boxing 2004"/>

Following the match, Willard was quoted as saying, "Dempsey is a remarkable hitter. It was the first time that I had ever been knocked off my feet. I have sent many birds home in the same bruised condition that I am in, and now I know how they felt. I sincerely wish Dempsey all the luck possible and hope that he garnishes all the riches that comes with the championship. I have had my fling with the title. I was champion for four years and I assure you that they'll never have to give a benefit for me. I have invested the money I have made".<ref name="coxscorner.tripod.com"/> Willard later said he had been defeated by "[[gangsterism]]".<ref name="Boxing 2004"/>

After being fired by Dempsey, manager Jack Kearns gave an account of the fight in the January 20, 1964, issue of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' that has become known as the "loaded gloves theory". In the interview, Kearns said he had informed Dempsey he had wagered his share of the purse favoring a Dempsey win with a first-round knockout. Kearns further stated he had applied [[plaster of Paris]] to the wrappings on the fighter's hands.

Boxing historian [[J. J. Johnston]] said, "the films show Willard upon entering the ring walking over to Dempsey and examining his hands." That, along with an experiment conducted by a boxing magazine designed to re-enact the fight have been noted as proof that Kearns' story was false.<ref name="coxscorner.tripod.com"/>

''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' founder and editor [[Nat Fleischer]] said he had been present when Dempsey's hands were wrapped, stating, "Jack Dempsey had no loaded gloves, and no plaster of Paris over his bandages. I watched the proceedings and the only person who had anything to do with the taping of Jack's hands was Deforest{{clarify|date=January 2025|reason=Who was this person? With whom or what organization was he affiliated?}}. Kearns had nothing to do with it, so his plaster of Paris story is simply not true."

Deforest himself said that he regarded the stories of Dempsey's gloves being loaded as libel, calling them "trash", and said he did not apply any foreign substance to them, "which I can verify since I watched the taping."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fleischer |first1=Nat |author-link=Nat Fleischer|title=50 Years At Ringside|location=New York |publisher=Fleet Publishing Corp |year=1958 |page=118}}</ref> [[Sports writer]] [[Red Smith (sportswriter)|Red Smith]], in Dempsey's obituary published by ''The New York Times'' was openly dismissive of the claim.<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0624.html |date=June 1, 1983 |title=OBITUARY: Jack Dempsey, 87, is Dead; Boxing Champion of 1920s |first1=Red |last1=Smith |author-link1=Red Smith (sportswriter) |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 23, 2012}}</ref>

Another rumor is that Dempsey used a [[knuckleduster]] during the first round. Some speculated that the object used was a [[rail spike]].<ref name="Boxing 2004"/> In the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' on July 3, 1979, Joe Stone, an ex-referee and boxing writer, asserted that in a film taken of the fight, an object on the canvas could be seen after the final knockdown. He further asserted that the object appears to be removed by someone from Dempsey's corner. In the same film, however, Dempsey can be seen at various times during the fight pushing and holding with Willard with the palm of the glove in question and holding on to the ropes with both hands, making it next to impossible that he had any foreign object embedded in his glove, and the object resembles a cigar.<ref name="coxscorner.tripod.com"/>

Further controversy was fueled by the fact that Dempsey left the ring at the end of the first round, thinking the fight was over. This was seen as a violation of the rules, however Willard's corner did not ask for enforcement in order for the referee to disqualify Dempsey.<ref name="Boxing 2004"/>

===Title defenses===
[[File:Jack Dempsey v Georges Carpentier cph.3b35134.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Dempsey and Carpentier in the arena before the fight]]
Following his victory, Dempsey traveled around the country, making publicity appearances with circuses, staging exhibitions, and appearing in a low-budget Hollywood movie. Dempsey did not defend his title until September 1920, with a fight against [[Billy Miske]] in [[Benton Harbor]], Michigan. Miske was knocked out in three rounds.

Dempsey's second title defense was in December 1920 against Bill Brennan at [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]], New York City. After 10 rounds, Brennan was ahead on points, and Dempsey's left ear was bleeding profusely. Dempsey rebounded to stop Brennan in the 12th round.

====Jack Dempsey vs. Georges Carpentier====
[[File:TIMEMagazine10Sep1923.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' cover, September 10, 1923]]
{{Main|Jack Dempsey vs. Georges Carpentier}}
Dempsey's next defending fight was against French [[WW I]] hero [[Georges Carpentier]], a fighter popular on both sides of the Atlantic.<ref group=upper-alpha>{{cite news |first= John S.|last= Radosta|title=Georges Carpentier, Boxer, Dies in Paris; He Fought Dempsey at Boyle's Thirty Acres in 1921 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/29/archives/georges-carpentier-boxer-dies-in-paris-he-fought-dempsey-at-boyles.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 29, 1975|access-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> The bout was promoted by [[Tex Rickard]] and [[George Bernard Shaw]], who claimed that Carpentier was "the greatest boxer in the world".<ref name="Sann">Sann, Paul. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080304091047/http://www.lawlessdecade.net/21-1.htm The Lawless Decade]. lawlessdecade.net</ref>

The Dempsey–Carpentier contest took place on July 2, 1921, at [[Boyle's Thirty Acres]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]]. It generated the first million-dollar gate in boxing history;<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Gustkey |first1=Earl |date=June 25, 1995 |title=This Champion Was a Real Bum : Jack Dempsey, the Man Who Inspired Boxing's First Million-Dollar Gate, Was Born 100 Years Ago |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-25-sp-17054-story.html |access-date=March 16, 2018 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> a crowd of 91,000 watched the fight. Though it was deemed "the Fight of the Century", experts anticipated a one-sided win for Dempsey. Radio pioneer [[RCA]] arranged for live coverage of the match via [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]], making the event the first national radio broadcast.<ref name="PBS">{{cite web |url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/fight/peopleevents/p_dempsey.html |title= Jack Dempsey (1895–1983) |series= [[The American Experience]] |work= The Fight |publisher= [[PBS]] |date= September 22, 2004 |access-date= June 24, 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-date= October 9, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161009224329/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/fight/peopleevents/p_dempsey.html |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Fisher">{{cite book | last =Fisher | first =Marc | title =Something in the Air | publisher =[[Random House]] | year =2007 | location =New York | page =xiv | isbn =978-0-375-50907-0 | no-pp =true | url-access =registration | url =https://archive.org/details/somethinginairra00fish }}</ref>

Carpentier wobbled Dempsey with a hard right in the second round. A reporter at ringside, however, counted 25 punches from Dempsey in a single 31-second exchange soon after he was supposedly injured by the right.<ref name="Sann"/> Carpentier also broke his thumb in that round, which crippled his chances. Dempsey ended up winning the match in the fourth round.

Dempsey did not defend his title again until [[Jack Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons|July 1923]] against [[Tommy Gibbons]] in [[Shelby, Montana]]. Dempsey won the match as result of a 15-round decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uDuNfZGC7g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/6uDuNfZGC7g| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Jack Dempsey vs Tommy Gibbons (Full Film), part 1/5|last=rsmorodinov|date=June 30, 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdCcMZZoVMY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XdCcMZZoVMY| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Jack Dempsey vs Tommy Gibbons (July 1923)|last=Hao1981|date=January 11, 2010|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
[[File:Bellows George Dempsey and Firpo 1924.jpg|thumb|left|''Dempsey and Firpo'', 1924 painting by [[George Bellows]]]]

{{Main|Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo}}

The last successful title defense for Dempsey was in September 1923 at New York City's [[Polo Grounds]] in [[Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo|Dempsey vs. Firpo]]. Attendance was 85,000, with another 20,000 trying to get inside the arena. Firpo was knocked down repeatedly by Dempsey, yet continued to battle back, even knocking Dempsey down twice. On the second occasion he was floored, Dempsey flew head-first through the ring ropes, landing on a ringside reporter's typewriter. At this point he was out of the ring for approximately 14 seconds, less than the 20 second rule for out-of-ring knockouts. He was helped back into the ring by the writers at ringside. Ultimately, Dempsey beat Argentinian contender [[Luis Ángel Firpo]] with a second-round KO. The fight was transmitted live by radio to [[Buenos Aires]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/coberturas-historicas/1923-cuando-firpo-tiro-a-dempsey-fuera-del-ring-detalle.php |date=September 22, 1923 |title=Cuando Firpo tiró a Dempsey fuera del ring: El encuentro por la corona mundial de Box |magazine=[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|Revista El Gráfico]] |access-date=July 10, 2012 |archive-date=February 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226132309/http://www.elgrafico.com.ar/coberturas-historicas/1923-cuando-firpo-tiro-a-dempsey-fuera-del-ring-detalle.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Dempsey's heavyweight title-defending fights, exhibition fights, movies, and endorsements, made Dempsey one of the richest athletes in the world, putting him on the cover of ''[[Time (Magazine)|Time]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19230910,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106104447/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19230910,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2007 |title=Jack Dempsey cover |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 10, 1923 |access-date=January 20, 2014}}</ref>

===Time off from boxing===
[[File:Jack Dempsey carrying his wife.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Jack Dempsey holding his wife, Estelle Taylor, on his shoulder]]
Dempsey did not defend his title for three years following the Firpo fight. There was pressure from the public and the media for Dempsey to defend his title against [[African American|Black]] contender [[Harry Wills]]. Disagreement exists among boxing historians as to whether Dempsey avoided Wills, though Dempsey claimed he was willing to fight him. When he originally won the title, however, he had said he would no longer fight Black boxers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1919/07/06/96327153.pdf|title=Jack Dempsey, new heavyweight champion, announces he will draw the color line |date= July 5, 1919|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

Instead of continuing to defend his title, Dempsey earned money with boxing exhibitions, product endorsements, and by appearing in films, such as the adventure [[film serial]] ''[[Daredevil Jack]]''. Dempsey also did a lot of traveling, spending, and partying. During this time away from competitive fighting, Dempsey married actress [[Estelle Taylor]] in 1925 and fired his long-time trainer/manager Jack "Doc" Kearns. Kearns repeatedly sued Dempsey for large sums of money following his firing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19271116&id=mqZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2594,4654506 |newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Journal]] |title=Pick jury for trial of Kearns vs. Dempsey |page=17 |location=Princeton, New Jersey |date=November 16, 1927 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In April 1924, Dempsey was appointed to an executive position in the [[Irish Worker League]] (IWL). The IWL was a [[USSR|Soviet]]-backed [[Communist]] group founded in [[Dublin]] by Irish labour leader [[Jim Larkin]].<ref>{{cite book |first1=Emmet |last1=O'Connor |title=Reds and the Green: Ireland, Russia and the Communist Internationals, 1919–1943 |location=Dublin, Ireland |publisher=[[University College Dublin]] |year=2004|isbn=1-904558-20-8}}</ref>

===Loss of title===
In September 1926, Dempsey fought the [[Irish American]] and former [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] [[Gene Tunney]] in [[Philadelphia]],<ref group=upper-alpha>{{cite news |title=Tunney, Boxing Champion Who Beat Dempsey, Dies. Lectured on Shakespeare |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0610FF3D5511728DDDA10894D9415B888BF1D3 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 8, 1978 |access-date=October 16, 2008}}</ref> a fighter who had only lost once in his career. In spite of his record and Dempsey's inactivity, Tunney was considered the underdog against Dempsey.

The match ended in an upset, with Dempsey losing his title on points in 10 rounds. When the defeated Dempsey returned to his dressing room, he explained his loss to his wife by saying, "Honey, I forgot to duck."<ref name="Smith"/> Fifty-five years later president [[Ronald Reagan]] borrowed this quote when his wife [[Nancy Reagan|Nancy]] visited him in the emergency room after the [[Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan|attempt on his life]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090428035822/http://www.ronaldreagan.com/march30.html "Ronald Reagan ... Assassination Attempt".] ronaldreagan.com.</ref>

===Post-title loss===
[[File:Jack Dempsey - El Gráfico 421.jpg|thumb|170px|Dempsey in 1927, as he appeared on the cover of the Argentinian magazine ''[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]]'']]
Following his loss of the heavyweight title, Dempsey contemplated retiring but decided to try a comeback. It was during this time period that tragedy struck his family when his brother, John Dempsey, shot his estranged wife Edna (aged 21) and then killed himself in a [[murder–suicide]], leaving behind a two-year-old son, Bruce. Dempsey was called upon to identify the bodies and was emotionally affected by the incident.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dempsey's Brother Slays Wife, Self. John Dempsey Shoots Woman, Then Commits Suicide, at Schenectady. Boxer Identifies Bodies. He Is Deeply Affected by the Tragedy. The couple Had Been Estranged for Year. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/07/03/archives/dempseys-brother-slays-wife-self-john-dempsey-shoots-woman-then.html|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 3, 1927|access-date=October 16, 2008}} [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/07/03/96658980.pdf Accessed as PDF file for ease of reading April 22, 2018]</ref>

During a July 21, 1927, fight at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], Dempsey knocked out future heavyweight champion [[Jack Sharkey]] in the seventh round. The fight was an elimination bout for a title shot against Tunney. The fight was very competitive until the end. The fight ended controversially when Sharkey claimed Dempsey had been hitting him below the belt. When Sharkey turned to the referee to complain, he left himself unprotected and Dempsey crashed a left hook onto his foe's chin. Sharkey was unable to beat the ten-count. At the time of the knockout, Dempsey was leading on the scorecards.

===Tunney rematch: "The Long Count"===
{{Main|The Long Count Fight}}
The Dempsey–Tunney rematch took place in [[Chicago]], on September 22, 1927 {{ndash}} one day less than a year after losing his title to Tunney. Generating more interest than the Carpentier and Firpo bouts, the fight brought in a record-setting $2 million gate. Reportedly, gangster [[Al Capone]] offered to fix the rematch in his favor, but the referee was changed to prevent that from happening.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Listed|first1=Not|title=1927 Dempsey loses on long count|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dempsey-loses-on-long-count|website=History.com|publisher=A&E Television Networks, LLC|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323214646/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dempsey-loses-on-long-count|archive-date=March 23, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Millions around the country listened to the match by radio while hundreds of reporters covered the event. Tunney was paid a record one million dollars for the rematch. Today's equivalent in U.S. currency would be approximately ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000000|1927|r=-4}}}}.00.{{inflation-fn|US}}

Dempsey was losing the fight on points when in the seventh round he knocked Tunney down with a left hook to the chin then landed several more punches. A new rule instituted at the time of the fight mandated that when a fighter knocked down an opponent, he must immediately go to a neutral corner. Dempsey, however, refused to immediately move to the neutral corner when instructed by the referee. The referee had to escort Dempsey to the neutral corner, which bought Tunney at least an extra five seconds to recover. Even though the official timekeeper clocked 14 seconds Tunney was down, Tunney got up at the referee's count of 9. Dempsey then attempted to finish Tunney off before the end of the round, but failed to do so. Tunney dropped Dempsey for a count of one in round eight and won the final two rounds of the fight, retaining the title of world heavyweight champion on a unanimous decision. Ironically, the neutral corner rule was requested during negotiations by members of the Dempsey camp. Another discrepancy was, when Tunney knocked Dempsey down, the timekeeper started the count immediately, not waiting for Tunney to move to a neutral corner.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.genetunney.org/idol63.html |title=Jack Dempsey – The Idol of Fistiana |first= Nat |last= Fleischer |chapter= Ch. 63: Drama of the Long Count |date=October 2011 |access-date= July 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314164236/http://www.genetunney.org/idol63.html |archive-date= March 14, 2007 |publisher= C. J. O'Brien |location= New York |isbn= 978-1258114398 }}</ref> Because of the controversial nature of the fight due to the neutral corner rule and conflicting counts, the Dempsey–Tunney rematch remains known as "[[The Long Count Fight]]".