Vintage boxing artwork
THE RING ALMANAC
THE RING ALMANAC
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Heavyweight · Golden Age (1920–1959)

Jack Dempsey

"The Manassa Mauler"

54
Wins
6
Losses
9
Draws
44
KOs
81%
KO %
Born
1895
Died
1983
Nationality
USA
Career
1914–1927

The ferocious idol of the Roaring Twenties, Dempsey drew boxing's first million-dollar gates.

Special Selection · July 4, 1919

Dempsey vs Willard: The day Toledo shook

Archival images, fight commentary and the rules behind the brutal Toledo title fight.

Read the feature →

Titles & Honours

Career Timeline

1914–1927
  1. Milestone

    First recorded professional bout

    vs Young Herman · D PTS

    View fight record
  2. Milestone

    25th recorded win

    vs Young Hector · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  3. Milestone

    50th recorded win

    vs Carl Morris · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  4. Title history

    Title reign begins

    World Heavyweight Champion (1919–1926). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.

    View title / honour details
  5. Signature fight

    vs Jess Willard

    W RTD3 Jess Willard (1919) · Bay View Park Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.

    View fight record
  6. Milestone

    Latest recorded bout

    vs Gene Tunney · L UD. Not necessarily the retirement date.

    View fight record
  7. Signature fight

    vs Gene Tunney

    L PTS10 Gene Tunney (1927) – 'Long Count' · Soldier Field, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

    View fight record

Derived from the current archive and profile honours. Title-reign years are not exact bout dates; title claims are not independently verified. Signature fights use existing profile selections, or clearly labelled wins over other archived fighters when no selections exist. Year-only dates retain their original precision.

Photo Archive

TIME Magazine Cover Featuring Jack Dempsey (10 Sep 1923)
TIME Magazine Cover Featuring Jack Dempsey (10 Sep 1923)
Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey in United States Coast Guard Lt. Commander uniform (center), watching 2 seamen load anti-aircraft gun
Jack Dempsey in United States Coast Guard Lt. Commander uniform (center), watching 2 seamen load anti-aircraft gun
Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in arena before fight at Boyle's Thirty Acres.
Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in arena before fight at Boyle's Thirty Acres.
Boxer Jack Dempsey in Chicago, hoisting his wife, Estelle Taylor, on his right shoulder.
Boxer Jack Dempsey in Chicago, hoisting his wife, Estelle Taylor, on his right shoulder.
Boxer Jack Dempsey and his new bride actress Hannah Williams
Boxer Jack Dempsey and his new bride actress Hannah Williams
Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
El Grafico del 30 de Julio de 1927. Edicion 421
El Grafico del 30 de Julio de 1927. Edicion 421
"Dempsey, Houdini, Leonard (boxing)". 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. Jack Dempsey (l), Harry Houdini (center), and Benny Leonard (r) spar at a publicity event.
"Dempsey, Houdini, Leonard (boxing)". 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. Jack Dempsey (l), Harry Houdini (center), and Benny Leonard (r) spar at a publicity event.
Jack Dempsey (right) playing to box with the Argentine journalist who enterviewed him in Broadway.
Jack Dempsey (right) playing to box with the Argentine journalist who enterviewed him in Broadway.
Bellows George Dempsey and Firpo 1924
Bellows George Dempsey and Firpo 1924
Gene Tunney (right) throws a jab at Jack Dempsey as referee Tommy Reilly watches, at Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1926. Photo by Stanley Weston.
Gene Tunney (right) throws a jab at Jack Dempsey as referee Tommy Reilly watches, at Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1926. Photo by Stanley Weston.

12 archival photographs under their original licences.

Fight-by-Fight Record

DateResultOpponentMethodRoundVenue
1914-08-18DYoung HermanPTS6Ramona Athletic Club Arena, Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
1914-11-02WYoung HancockKO1Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1914-11-30WBilly MurphyKO1Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1915-01-01WBattling JohnsonKO1Utah, U.S.
1915-02-02WJoe LyonsKO9Utah, U.S.
1915-02-26DChief GeronimoPTS4Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
1915-03-03WJohn PiersonKO7Utah, U.S.
1915-04-01WChief GordonKO6Utah, U.S.
1915-04-05LJack DowneyPTS10Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1915-04-26WEmmanuel CampbellTKO4Airdrome Arena, Reno, Arizona, U.S.
1915-05-31DJohnny SudenbergPTS10Hippodrome, Goldfield, Nevada, U.S.
1915-06-11DJohnny SudenbergPTS10Airdome, Tonopah, Nevada, U.S.
1915-09-23WFred WoodsKO4Moose Hall, Montrose, Colorado, U.S.
1915-10-07WAndy MalloyNWS10Gem Theatre, Durango, Colorado, U.S.
1915-10-23WAndy MalloyKO3Moose Hall, Montrose, Colorado, U.S.
1915-11-19WGeorge CoplenKO6Lyric Opera House, Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S.
1915-12-13DJack DowneyPTS4Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1915-12-20WJack GillianTKO1Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1916-02-01WJohnny SudenbergKO2Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.
1916-02-05WSwede JohnsonKO2Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.
1916-02-21WJack DowneyKO2Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1916-02-23WBoston BearcatKO1Armory, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
1916-03-09WCyril KohenKO4Mozart Theatre, Provo, Utah, U.S.
1916-03-17WGeorge ChristianKO1Eko Theatre, Price, Utah, U.S.
1916-04-08WJoe BondsPTS10Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.
1916-05-03WTerry KellarPTS10Alhambra Theatre, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
1916-05-17WDan KetchellTKO3Mozart Theatre, Provo, Utah, U.S.
1916-05-30WBob YorkKO4Eko Theatre, Price, Utah, U.S.
1916-06-24WAndre AndersonNWS10Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, New York, U.S.
1916-07-08WBert KennyNWS10Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, New York, U.S.
1916-07-14DJohn Lester JohnsonNWS10Harlem Sporting Club, Harlem, New York, U.S.
1916-09-28WYoung HectorRTD3Fire Hall, Murray, Utah, U.S.
1916-10-07WTerry KellarPTS10Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.
1916-10-16WDick GilbertPTS10Salt Lake Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.
1916-11-29WYoung HectorKO2The Rink, Salida, Colorado, U.S.
1917-02-13LFireman Jim FlynnKO1Trocadero Hall, Murray, Utah, U.S.
1917-03-21DAl NortonPTS4West Oakland Club, Oakland, California, U.S.
1917-03-28LWillie MeehanPTS4Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-04-11DAl NortonPTS4West Oakland Club, Oakland, California, U.S.
1917-07-25WWillie MeehanPTS4Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-08-01WAl NortonKO1Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-08-10DWillie MeehanPTS4Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.
1917-09-07DWillie MeehanPTS4Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.
1917-09-19WCharley MillerTKO1Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-09-19WWillie MeehanTKO1Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-09-26WBob McAllisterPTS4Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.
1917-10-02WGunboat SmithPTS4Recreation Park, San Francisco, U.S.
1917-11-02WCarl MorrisPTS4Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.
1918-01-24WHomer SmithKO1Racine, Wisconsin, U.S.
1918-02-02WCarl MorrisDQ6Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1918-02-14WFireman Jim FlynnKO1Fort Sheridan, Illinois, U.S.
1918-02-25WBill BrennanTKO6Milwaukee Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
1918-03-16WFred SaddyKO1Phoenix Athletic Club, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
1918-03-25WTom RileyKO1Southwest Athletic Club, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
1918-05-03WBilly MiskeNWS10Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
1918-05-22WDan KetchellKO2Excelsior Springs, Missouri, U.S.
1918-05-29WArthur PelkeyKO1Stockyards Stadium, Denver, U.S.
1918-07-01WTom McCartyKO1Tulsa Convention Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
1918-07-04WBob DevereKO1Joe Becker Stadium, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.
1918-07-06WDan FlynnKO1Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, U.S.
1918-07-27WFred FultonKO1Harrison Park, Harrison, New Jersey, U.S.
1918-08-24WTerry KellarTKO5Westwood Field Gym, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
1918-09-13LWillie MeehanPTS4San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, U.S.
1918-09-14WJack MoranKO1Moana Springs Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
1918-11-06WBattling LevinskyKO3Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, U.S.
1918-11-18WDan FlynnKO1Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1918-11-28WBilly MiskeNWS6Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1918-12-16WGunboat SmithKO2Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1918-12-16WCarl MorrisKO1Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
1919-01-16WJack MaguireKO1Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
1919-01-20WBig Jack HickeyKO1Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1919-01-23WKid HarrisKO1Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1919-01-29WKid HarrisKO1Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1919-02-13WEddie SmithKO1Altoona, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1919-04-02WTony DrakeKO1New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
1919-07-04WJess WillardRTD3Bay View Park Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
1920-09-06WBilly MiskeKO3Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena, Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
1920-12-14WBill BrennanKO12Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1921-07-02WGeorges CarpentierKO4Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey U.S.
1923-07-04WTommy GibbonsPTS15Arena, Shelby, Montana, U.S.
1923-09-14WLuis Ángel FirpoTKO2Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
1926-09-23LGene TunneyUD10Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1927-07-21WJack SharkeyKO7Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1927-09-22LGene TunneyUD10Soldier Field, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Showing 84 of 84 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-11. Imported record tables are not independently verified and may be incomplete. Early-era logs include newspaper decisions (NWS), which are not counted in the official totals above.

Record notes

Fight record last retrieved: 2026-10-11. Title histories remain subject to archival review.

Historical-era totals differ between record-keeping conventions (newspaper decisions, exhibitions).

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