Jack Dempsey
American heavyweight champion who created boxing's first million-dollar gate.
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey, known as Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American heavyweight boxer who fought from 1914 to 1927 and held the world heavyweight championship from 1919 to 1926. Born in Manassa, Colorado, on June 24, 1895, he was one of thirteen children in a family of Irish, Cherokee, and Jewish ancestry. Baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age eight, he left school and home at sixteen, hopping freight trains and working as a ditch digger, fruit picker, timber cutter, and circus roustabout. During this period, he fought in saloons under aliases, rarely losing barroom brawls. He also briefly worked as a bodyguard for a newspaper publisher.
His first fight as "Jack Dempsey" occurred in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in fall 1914, when his brother Bernie substituted him for a bout against veteran George Copelin. Despite being outweighed by twenty pounds, Dempsey knocked Copelin down six times in the first round and twice in the second, winning by a seventh-round stoppage. After this, he won six consecutive bouts by knockout before a disqualification loss to Jack Downey. He later knocked out Downey in two rounds. During this early career, he fought in Utah and Nevada, with many bouts ending as no-decisions due to local rules.
During World War I, Dempsey worked in a shipyard and continued boxing, later facing accusations of avoiding service until evidence showed he had registered but was exempted due to having a dependent wife. He is ranked sixth on *The Ring* magazine's all-time heavyweight list and fourth among its top 100 punchers. In 1950, the Associated Press named him the greatest fighter of the previous fifty years. Dempsey generated boxing's first million-dollar gate in 1921 against Georges Carpentier, surpassing his own 1919 record set against Jess Willard. He later drew the sport's first two-million-dollar gate in his 1927 rematch with Gene Tunney. He received the Edward J. Neil Memorial Plaque in 1938 and was an inaugural inductee into *The Ring* Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
- died
- May 31, 1983
- field
- Boxing
- nationality
- American
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- William Harrison Dempsey
- Nickname
- Kid Blackie / The Manassa Mauler
- Weight
- Heavyweight
- Height
- 6 ft 1 in
- Reach
- 73 in
- Birth Date
- 1895-06-24
- Birth Place
- Manassa, Colorado, U.S.
- Death Date
- 1983-05-31
- Death Place
- New York City, U.S.
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Total
- 84
- Wins
- 68
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Born in Manassa, Colorado to a family of 13 children living in poverty, Dempsey was of mixed Irish, Cherokee, and Jewish ancestry. His father’s chronic unemployment forced the family to move repeatedly across Colorado and Utah. Dempsey left school and home at 16, becoming a hobo who rode freight trains and took transient work as a ditch digger, fruit picker, timber cutter, and circus roustabout. In saloons across Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, he issued challenges under the alias “Kid Blackie,” betting on barroom brawls he rarely lost. He also briefly served as a part-time bodyguard for a newspaper president. His first fight as “Jack Dempsey” occurred in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in fall 1914, substituting for his brother Bernie. Though outweighed by 20 pounds, Dempsey knocked his opponent down six times in the first round and twice in the second, winning a seventh-round stoppage. He followed with six consecutive knockout victories before a disqualification loss, then compiled a string of wins and draws against opponents like Johnny Sudenberg and Jack Downey. Many early bouts ended as no-decisions due to local rules. After World War I began, Dempsey worked in a shipyard while continuing to box. He later faced accusations of draft evasion, but evidence showed he had registered and was exempted due to having a dependent wife.
Reader's Guide
Jack Dempsey's significance lies in his role as a transformative figure in boxing history. He was the inaugural winner of the Edward J. Neil Memorial Plaque in 1938, awarded by the Boxing Writers Association of Greater New York, and is an inaugural inductee of The Ring magazine Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His career, marked by early poverty and a rise through mining-town fights, reflects the rugged individualism of early 20th-century American sports. Dempsey generated boxing's first million-dollar gate in 1921 against Georges Carpentier, surpassing his own 1919 record set versus Jess Willard, and later drew the sport's first two-million-dollar gate in his 1927 rematch with Gene Tunney. The Ring magazine ranks him sixth among all-time heavyweights and fourth among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers, while the Associated Press voted him the greatest fighter of the past 50 years in 1950. His early life as a hobo, hopping freight trains and fighting in saloons under the alias "Kid Blackie," shaped his aggressive style. His first bout as "Jack Dempsey" occurred in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he substituted for his brother and downed opponent George Copelin multiple times. He worked in a shipyard during World War I and faced accusations of being a slacker until evidence of his registration and hardship exemption emerged in 1920.
Did You Know?
- Dempsey was nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler.
- Dempsey's first fight as 'Jack Dempsey' was a substitution for his brother Bernie in Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nicknames was Jack Dempsey known by?
Dempsey carried two popular monikers throughout his career: "Kid Blackie" and "The Manassa Mauler." Both names tied back to his youth and his small Colorado hometown.
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