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On the "there were blacks who would have beaten Dempsey" front, I'm still none the wiser, but someone did point me in the direction of a video of him "sparring" Big Bill Tate. I've heard back in Dempsey's days sparring sessions and exhibitions were often really full blown fights, but advertised as something else because it could be tricky getting a fight sanctioned. Someone in the video's comments thread on YouTube says Dempsey knocked Tate out in the second round with a big left - does anyone know anything more about this?
I read that Dempsey was willing to give a shot to some of the Black contenders but the social conventions of that time made it impossible?
Anyone know more info about this.
By the way, wasn't Dempsey 1/4th Cherokee Indian himself from his mom's side?
My understanding is that Dempsey pushed hard to fight the top black contender, Harry Wills, but the NY athletic commission refused to sanction it. There were specific rules in place banning blacks from fighting for the heavyweight belt in Dempsey's time (I think I even saw something about there being a Coloured Heavyweight Championship, and that Big Bill Tate - who Dempsey sparred with and knocked out - once challended for it) because of the race riots the bouts had kicked off before.
Here what I think of the Ali interview. I think he sees Jack the same way Floyd looked at Gatti. I think he looking at Jack's style and seeing someone that just throws bombs and comes forward with no d. I am not saying that, that is what jack or gatti are. I just saying that I think that is what Ali and mayweather see when they watch tape of them.
putting gatti's name with dempseys is sacrilige. you're lucky I'm not a mod:icon_chee