1920's Cultural Website

Jack Dempsey, one of the fiercest boxers of the 1920s, was born into a family of 12 on June 24, 1895 in Manassa, Colorado. He was born with the name William Harrison Dempsey, but through his life he adopted several names including: 'The Manassa Mauler', 'Kid Blackie', and 'Young Dempsey'. As a child, Dempsey was always fierce and aggressive. Because boxing was not a prominent sport, he entered his teens and adulthood doing odd jobs including: digging ditches, picking peaches, and cutting timber. His escapes from the hard labor were the saloon fights he provoked in small Colorado mining towns. When he was in his early 20s, Dempsey had the opportunity to pursue a professional career in boxing.

 

Dempsey’s boxing career began when he was 16. He became one of the most popular heavyweight champions of all time. Dempsey was known for his agility, speed, and power. He was also ruthless and persistent. From 1919 to 1927, Dempsey won 8 Heavyweight championships. His name struck fear into the hearts of all his competitors. Through his career, Dempsey went 60-7 with 51 knock-outs.