View source for Jack Dempsey

{{Short description|American boxer (1895–1983)}}
{{About|the 20th-century boxing champion|the 19th-century boxing champion|Nonpareil Jack Dempsey|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Jack Dempsey
| image = Jack_Dempsey_1.jpg
| caption =Dempsey in 1920 
| realname = William Harrison Dempsey
| nickname = {{plainlist|
*Kid Blackie
*The Manassa Mauler
}}
| weight = {{plainlist|
*[[Heavyweight]]
}}
| height      = 6 ft 1 in
| reach       = 73 in
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1895|6|24}}
| birth_place = [[Manassa, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1983|5|31|1895|6|24}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| style       = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 84
| wins = 68
| KO = 53
| losses = 6
| draws = 10
}}

'''William Harrison''' "'''Jack'''" '''Dempsey''' (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed '''Kid Blackie''' and '''The Manassa Mauler''', was an American boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and was [[List of world heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight champion]] from 1919 to 1926. He is ranked sixth on [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] magazine's list of all-time heavyweights and fourth among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers, while in 1950 the [[Associated Press]] voted him as the greatest fighter of the past 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Jan/29/br/hawaii100124013.html|title=On this date: 1950 – Jack Dempsey voted the greatest fighter of the past 50 years |work=[[Honolulu Advertiser]] |agency=Associated Press |date=January 29, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2012}}</ref>

Dempsey was the inaugural winner of the [[Sugar Ray Robinson Award|Edward J. Neil Memorial Plaque]] in 1938, awarded by the [[Boxing Writers Association of America|Boxing Writers Association of Greater New York]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 1983 |title=JACK DEMPSEY, 87, IS DEAD; BOXING CHAMPION OF 1920'S (Published 1983) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/01/obituaries/jack-dempsey-87-is-dead-boxing-champion-of-1920s.html |access-date=September 19, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Dempsey was an inaugural inductee of [[The Ring magazine Hall of Fame|''The Ring'' magazine Hall of Fame]] (1954), the World Boxing Hall of Fame (1980), and the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]] (1990).<ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/157476/Jack-Dempsey |title=Jack Dempsey |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]], Encyclopædia Britannica Online |date= December 14, 2011 |access-date=June 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2023 |title=Jack Dempsey Museum, Manassa, Colorado / MEMORY {{!}} David Martinez Boxing |url=https://dmboxing.com/jack-dempsey-museum-manassa-colorado-memory/ |access-date=September 19, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> Considered one of the most iconic athletes of his era, Dempsey generated boxing's first million-dollar gate in 1921 against [[Georges Carpentier]] ($1,789,238), surpassing his own 1919 record of $452,522.10 set versus [[Jess Willard]]. He later drew the sport's first two-million-dollar gate in his 1927 rematch with [[Gene Tunney]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2008 |title=Dettloff: A look at Jack Dempsey |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3492743 |access-date=September 19, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gustkey |first=Earl |date=July 2, 1991 |title=A Breathtaking Million-Dollar Fight : Boxing: It had never happened until 70 years ago today, when Jack Dempsey knocked out Georges Carpentier. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-02-sp-1842-story.html |access-date=September 19, 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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. 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, WV <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===
{{main|Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey}}
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 Corporation|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/americanexperience/features/fight-jack-dempsey-1895-1983/ |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= live |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]]]]

'''Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo'''
{{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]]".

==Post-retirement life==
[[File:Jack dempsey.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Portrait of Dempsey (date unknown)]]
Dempsey retired from boxing following the Tunney rematch, but continued doing exhibition bouts with over one hundred matches between 1930 and 1931 alone. Following retirement, Dempsey became known as a philanthropist. In June 1932, he sponsored the "Ride of Champions" bucking horse event at [[Reno, Nevada]], with the "Dempsey Trophy" going to legendary [[Bareback bronc and Saddle bronc riding|bronc rider]] [[Pete Knight (rodeo)|Pete Knight]]. In 1933, Dempsey was approached by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] to portray a boxer in the film, ''[[The Prizefighter and the Lady]]'', directed by [[W. S. Van Dyke]] and co-starring [[Myrna Loy]]. Dempsey portrayed himself in the role of referee of the climactic fight between [[Max Baer (boxer)|Max Baer]] (playing the role of Steve Morgan) and [[Primo Carnera]] (playing himself), a fictional battle that foreshadowed their actual championship bout only a year later. Dempsey attempted a boxing comeback in 1940 at the age of 45, setting a match against Cowboy Luttrell on July 1. The fight resulted in Dempsey knocking Luttrell out in the second round. Dempsey won two more exhibitions with early knockouts before deciding to call off the comeback and retire for good.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Jack Dempsey Comeback, Part 2- Levinsky Spoils Dempsey's Dream | date=December 24, 2024 | url=https://www.thefightcity.com/jack-dempsey-comeback-part-two-boxing/ }}</ref>

The Riviera del Pacifico Cultural and Convention Center in [[Ensenada, Baja California]], Mexico, built in 1930, was a gambling casino supposedly financed by Al Capone and managed by Dempsey.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Núñez Tapia |first=Francisco Alberto |date=2017-03-02 |title=Jack Dempsey´s Hotel in Baja California. The Playa Ensenada |url=https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2018/may/jack-dempseys-hotel-in-baja-california-the-playa-ensenada/ |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=147–170}}</ref> Its clientele included [[George Raft]], [[Errol Flynn]], [[Myrna Loy]], [[Lana Turner]], [[Rita Hayworth]], and [[Dolores del Río]].

In 1935, Dempsey opened Jack Dempsey's Restaurant in New York City on Eighth Avenue and 50th Street, across from the third [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]]. The restaurant's name was later changed to [[Jack Dempsey's Broadway Restaurant]] when it relocated to [[Times Square]] on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] between 49th and 50th Streets. It remained open until 1974.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tipsontables.com/jackdempseys.html |title=Tips on Tables: Jack Dempsey's Is Notable For Special Dishes |first1=Robert W. |last1=Dana |publisher=Tips on Tables.com |date= August 1, 1949 |access-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref> Dempsey was also a co-owner of the [[Colony Palms Hotel|Howard Manor]] in [[Palm Springs, California]].<ref name=Vincent>{{cite news|last=Vincent|first=Roger|title=L.A. investors acquire Palm Springs hotel|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-jun-18-la-fi-property-report-20120618-story.html|access-date= September 16, 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 18, 2012}} (with correction in: {{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/local/corrections/la-xpm-2012-jun-22-la-a4-0622-correx-20120622-story.html |title= For the record |date= June 22, 2012 |work= Los Angeles Times}})</ref>
[[File:Jack Dempsey and Hannah Williams after their marriage in 1933.jpg|thumb|left| Jack Dempsey and [[Hannah Williams (actress)|Hannah Williams]] after their marriage in 1933]]
Dempsey married four times; his first two wives were Maxine Gates (married from 1916 to 1919) and [[Estelle Taylor]] (married in 1925).<ref name=biocom>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/jack-dempsey-9271466 |title=Jack Dempsey |year=2012 |work=Biography.com |access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> Dempsey divorced Taylor in 1931, and married [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] singer and recent divorcee [[Hannah Williams (actress)|Hannah Williams]] in 1933. Williams was previously married to bandleader [[Roger Wolfe Kahn]]. Dempsey and Williams had two children together and divorced in 1943. Dempsey then married Deanna Piatelli, remaining married to her until his death in 1983. The couple had one child, a daughter, whom they adopted together, and who would later write a book on Dempsey's life with Piatelli.<ref name=biocom/>

===Service during World War II===
[[File:Jack Dempsey with USCG sailors loading weapon cph.3b08434.jpg|thumb|Commander Dempsey (center) looking on as two seamen load an antiaircraft gun, c. 1942–44]]
When the United States entered World War II, Dempsey had an opportunity to refute any remaining criticism of his war record of two decades earlier. He joined the [[New York State Guard]] and was given a commission as a [[first lieutenant]], later resigning that commission to accept a commission as a lieutenant in the [[Coast Guard Reserve]]. He reported for duty in June 1942 at Coast Guard Training Station, [[Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], where he was assigned as "Director of Physical Education". As part of the ongoing war effort, he made personal appearances at fights, camps, hospitals, and [[war bond]] drives. He was promoted to [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] in December 1942 and [[Commander (United States)|commander]] in March 1944. In 1944, he was assigned to the transport {{Ship|USS|Wakefield|AP-21}}. In 1945, he was on board the attack transport {{Ship|USS|Arthur Middleton|APA-25}} for the [[invasion of Okinawa]]. He also spent time aboard the {{Ship|USS|General William Mitchell|AP-114}}, where he spent time showing the crew sparring techniques. He was released from active duty in September 1945 and received an [[honorable discharge]] from the Coast Guard Reserve in 1952.<ref name="Britannica"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/jackdempsey.asp |title=USCG: Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Uscg.mil |access-date= January 16, 2011}}</ref>

=== Professional wrestling ===
After retiring from boxing, Dempsey became involved in [[professional wrestling]] as a featured attraction and a frequent [[Referee (professional wrestling)|referee]] in those said featured attractions. The first match that Dempsey refereed was at a show in [[Dallas]] on January 9, 1931, between Jim O'Dowd and Billy Edwards. In the match, Dempsey retaliated against an attack from Edwards with a straight punch, which caused O'Dowd to win the match. Six years later, on October 18, 1937, he refereed an entire show at the Jaffa Mosque in [[Altoona, Pennsylvania]], where the main event was between [[Dusek family|Wally Dusek]] and Ray Steele.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jack Dempsey |url=https://www.legacyofwrestling.com/JackDempsey.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=www.legacyofwrestling.com}}</ref> In April 1947, he and Jack Sharkey co-refereed a two-out-of-three falls tag team match between Emil Dusek and Ernie Dusek of the [[Dusek family|Dusek Family]] against [[Yvon Robert]] and [[Larry Moquin]] in [[Montreal]]. Robert and Moquin, who were the faces, defeated the brothers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1947-04-23 |title=Boxing or wrestling merits may be solved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/111640931/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |newspaper=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]] |pages=14 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

He famously refereed a match on June 21, 1950, between [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers]] and the [[NWA World's Heavyweight Championship|NWA World's Heavyweight Champion]] [[Lou Thesz]]. Thesz won the bout after getting Rogers stuck between the top and middle ropes in a choke hold, which prompted Dempsey to do a 10 count to signal a stoppage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prell |first=Edward |date=1950-06-22 |title=Thesz Throws Rogers Twice to Keep Title Before 7,638 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/20848728/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |pages=63 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Later that year, in December, he refereed a bout between [[Primo Carnera]] and [[Chief Don Eagle]]. The match was noted for being the first time since 1937 that Dempsey had been physically involved against a wrestler when, after Carnera, who was playing the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] in the match, drew the ire of Dempsey by way of illegal tactics during the match, Dempsey hit Carnera with two punches before Eagle pinned him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1933-11-03 |title=DEMPSEY HAS OLD PUNCH.; As Referee, He Knocks Out Wrestler for Choking Opponent. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/11/03/archives/dempsey-has-old-punch-as-referee-he-knocks-out-wrestler-for-choking.html |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The last match he guest refereed was a June 28, 1958 match between [[Pat O'Connor (wrestler)|Pat O'Connor]] and [[Killer Kowalski]]. The 63 year old Dempsey took a shot to the back of the head, which prompted a scare for the promoter and ring-side crew, but did not have any major or life-threatening injuries as a result.<ref name=":0" />

===Later life===
[[File:Van Doren and Jack Dempsey in 1951.jpg|left|thumb|Dempsey with [[Mamie Van Doren]] in 1951]]
[[File:Dempsey elgrafico 1970.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Dempsey (right) playing to box with ''[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]]'' journalist who interviewed him in Broadway, 1970]]
Dempsey wrote a book on boxing titled ''Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense'' and published in 1950. The book emphasizes knockout power derived from enabling fast motion from one's heavy bodyweight.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dempsey|first1=Jack|title=Championship Fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense|date=1950|publisher=Self published|pages=104|edition=first|url=https://archive.org/stream/Championship_Fighting_Explosive_Punching_and_Aggressive_Defense_1950_Jack_Dempse/Championship_Fighting_Explosive_Punching_and_Aggressive_Defense_1950_Jack_Dempsey_djvu.txt}}</ref>

After the world-famous [[Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling|Louis–Schmeling fight]], Dempsey stated he was glad he never had to face [[Joe Louis]] in the ring; when Louis eventually fell on hard times financially, Dempsey served as honorary chairman of a relief fund to assist him.<ref name="PBS"/>

From the time they boxed together in 1921, Dempsey remained close friends with French world champion [[Georges Carpentier]]. They visited each other in New York and Paris, got together to commemorate the anniversary of their famous bout and exchanged birthday greetings.

Dempsey made friends with former opponents Wills and Tunney after retirement, with Dempsey campaigning for Tunney's son, Democrat [[John V. Tunney]], when he successfully ran for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]], from [[California]]. He was also one of many boxers to attend the funeral of [[George Godfrey (boxer born 1897)|Feab S. Williams]], who boxed under the name of George Godfrey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ladailymirror.com/2018/08/21/black-l-a-1947-heavyweight-fighter-george-godfrey-the-black-shadow-of-leiperville-dies-at-50/ |title=Black L.A. 1947: Heavyweight Fighter George Godfrey, 'The Black Shadow of Leiperville,' Dies at 50 |website=The Daily Mirror |date=August 21, 2018 |access-date=July 30, 2021 }}</ref>

One of Dempsey's best friends was Judge [[John Sirica]], who presided over the [[Watergate scandal|Watergate]] trials.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-15-mn-4868-story.html |title= John J. Sirica, Watergate case judge, dies at 88 |work= Los Angeles Times |date= August 15, 1992}}</ref>

Dempsey was engaged to [[Mamie Van Doren]], when she was Joan Olander, in 1951. Van Doren details the relationship in her autobiography.

====Legacy====
Dempsey was an inaugural 1954 inductee to ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' magazine's [[The Ring magazine Hall of Fame|Boxing Hall of Fame]] (disbanded in 1987),<ref name=biocom/> and was an inaugural 1990 inductee to the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]]. In 1970, Dempsey became part of the "charter class" in the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://utahsportshalloffame.org/honorees/hall-of-fame.html |title= Hall of Fame Honorees Charter Class of 1970 |website= utahsportshalloffame.org |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129011522/http://utahsportshalloffame.org/honorees/hall-of-fame.html |archive-date= November 29, 2014 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

He recounted an incident where he was assaulted while walking home at night, telling the press in 1971 that the two young muggers attempted to grab his arms, but he broke free and laid them both out cold on the sidewalk. The story of the encounter appeared in the ''Hendersonville Times-News'', and reported the incident had taken place "a few years [earlier]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OOweAAAAIBAJ&pg=7026,1829545&dq |newspaper=[[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)|Hendersonville Times-News]] |agency=[[UPI]] |date=July 22, 1971 |first1=Milton |last1=Richman |title=Sports Parade |access-date=January 19, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 1977, in collaboration with his daughter Barbara Lynn, Dempsey published his autobiography, titled ''Dempsey''. In tribute to his legacy and boxing career, a 2004 [[Public Broadcasting System|PBS]] documentary summarized "Dempsey's boxing style consisted of constantly bobbing and weaving. His attacks were furious and sustained. Behind it all was rage. His aggressive behavior prompted a rule that boxers had to retreat to a neutral corner and give opponents who had been knocked down a chance to get up."<ref name="PBS"/> According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', constant attack was his strategic defense.<ref name="Britannica"/>
In 2011, Dempsey was posthumously inducted into the Irish American Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iahof.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=106 |title=The Irish American Hall of Fame Announces 2011 Inaugural Class |access-date= June 15, 2015 |website=Irish American Hall of Fame}}</ref>

Dempsey was a [[Freemason]] and member of Kenwood Lodge #800 in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usnews.com/listings/freemasons/10-athletes |title=Famous Freemasons: Athletes |magazine=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date =February 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718211456/http://www.usnews.com/listings/freemasons/10-athletes |archive-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mastermason.com/wilmettepark/wellknownmasons.html |title=Well Known Freemasons |publisher=Grand Lodge of British Columbia A.F. & A. M |access-date=February 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seastwood.com/backup310/Eastwood/freemasonath.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411192507/http://www.seastwood.com/backup310/Eastwood/freemasonath.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |title=Freemason Athletes |publisher=Freemason Home Page |access-date=February 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated8>{{cite book |editor-first1=John |editor-last1=Hamill |editor-first2=Robert |editor-last2=Gilert |title=Freemasonry, A Celebration Of The Craft |page=230|publisher=J.G. Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-9516355-2-2}}</ref>

===Death===
On May 31, 1983, Dempsey died of heart failure at the age of 87 in New York City.<ref name="Smith"></ref> His body was buried at [[Southampton Cemetery]] in [[Southampton (town), New York|Southampton, New York]].

==Professional boxing record==
===Official record===
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=9
|nws=6
|ko-wins=53
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=9
|dec-losses=5
|dq-wins=1
|dq-losses=0
}}
All [[newspaper decision]]s are officially regarded as "no decision" bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|84
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|63–6–9 {{small|(6)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gene Tunney]]
|UD
|10
|[[The Long Count Fight|22 Sep 1927]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Soldier Field]], Chicago, [[Illinois|Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|83
|{{yes2}}Win
|63–5–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack Sharkey]]
|KO
|7 (15), {{small|0:45}}
|21 Jul 1927
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|82
|{{no2}}Loss
|62–5–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gene Tunney]]
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney|23 Sep 1926]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sesquicentennial Stadium]], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|81
|{{yes2}}Win
|62–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Luis Ángel Firpo]]
|TKO
|2 (15), {{small|0:57}}
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo|14 Sep 1923]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|80
|{{yes2}}Win
|61–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Tommy Gibbons]]
|PTS
|15
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons|4 Jul 1923]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, [[Shelby, Montana]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|79
|{{yes2}}Win
|60–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Georges Carpentier]]
|KO
|4 (12)
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Georges Carpentier|2 Jul 1921]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Boyle's Thirty Acres]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]], New Jersey U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC and [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|78
|{{yes2}}Win
|59–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Bill Brennan (boxer)|Bill Brennan]]
|KO
|12 (15), {{small|1:57}}
|14 Dec 1920
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC heavyweight title}}
|-
|77
|{{yes2}}Win
|58–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|1:13}}
|6 Sep 1920
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena, [[Benton Harbor, Michigan]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|76
|{{yes2}}Win
|57–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jess Willard]]
|RTD
|3 (12)
|[[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|4 Jul 1919]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bay View Park Arena, [[Toledo, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[List of world heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|75
|{{yes2}}Win
|56–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Tony Drake
|KO
|1
|2 Apr 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[New Haven, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|74
|{{yes2}}Win
|55–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Eddie Smith
|KO
|1
|13 Feb 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Altoona, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|73
|{{yes2}}Win
|54–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Kid Harris
|KO
|1
|29 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Easton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|72
|{{yes2}}Win
|53–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Kid Harris
|KO
|1
|23 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Reading, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|71
|{{yes2}}Win
|52–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Big Jack Hickey
|KO
|1
|20 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|70
|{{yes2}}Win
|51–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Maguire
|KO
|1
|16 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Trenton, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|69
|{{yes2}}Win
|50–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gunboat Smith]]
|KO
|2 (8)
|16 Dec 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|68
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|KO
|1 (20), {{small|1:00}}
|16 Dec 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Louisiana Auditorium, [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|67
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|48–4–9 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|NWS
|6
|28 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|66
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–4–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Dan Flynn (boxer)|Dan Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|2:16}}
|18 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–4–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Battling Levinsky]]
|KO
|3 (6)
|6 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, [[Philadelphia]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–4–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack Moran (boxer)|Jack Moran]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|14 Sep 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moana Springs Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|63
|{{no2}}Loss
|45–4–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|13 Sep 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[San Francisco Civic Auditorium]], San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|62
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|TKO
|5 (15)
|24 Aug 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Westwood Field Gym, [[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|61
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fred Fulton]]
|KO
|1 (8), {{small|0:23}}
|27 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Harrison Park (New Jersey)|Harrison Park]], [[Harrison, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|60
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Dan Flynn (boxer)|Dan Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (10)
|6 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta)|Municipal Auditorium]], [[Atlanta]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob Devere
|KO
|1 (12)
|4 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Joe Becker Stadium]], Joplin, Missouri, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|58
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Tom McCarty
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|0:30}}
|1 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Tulsa Convention Hall]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Arthur Pelkey]]
|KO
|1 (15), {{small|1:00}}
|29 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Stockyards Stadium, [[Denver]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Dan Ketchell
|KO
|2 (10)
|22 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Excelsior Springs, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|55
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|38–3–9 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|NWS
|10
|3 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Auditorium, [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Tom Riley
|KO
|1 (15)
|25 Mar 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Southwest Athletic Club, [[Joplin, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Fred Saddy
|KO
|1 (8)
|16 Mar 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Phoenix Athletic Club, [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Bill Brennan (boxer)|Bill Brennan]]
|TKO
|6 (10)
|25 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Milwaukee Auditorium]], [[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fireman Jim Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|14 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}}
|6 (10)
|2 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Broadway Auditorium]], [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Homer Smith
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:15}}
|24 Jan 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Racine, Wisconsin]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|PTS
|4
|2 Nov 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gunboat Smith]]
|PTS
|4
|2 Oct 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Recreation Park (San Francisco)|Recreation Park]], San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob McAllister
|PTS
|4
|26 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Charley Miller
|TKO
|1 (4)
|19 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|TKO
|1 (4)
|19 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|43
|{{draw}}Draw
|27–3–9 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|7 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|42
|{{draw}}Draw
|27–3–8 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|10 Aug 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–3–7 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|KO
|1 (4)
|1 Aug 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–3–7 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|25 Jul 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|39
|{{draw}}Draw
|25–3–7 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|PTS
|4
|11 Apr 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|West Oakland Club, Oakland, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|25–3–6 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|28 Mar 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, [[Emeryville, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|37
|{{draw}}Draw
|25–2–6 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|PTS
|4
|21 Mar 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|West Oakland Club, [[Oakland, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|25–2–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fireman Jim Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (15), {{small|0:25}}
|13 Feb 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Trocadero Hall, Murray, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hector
|KO
|2
|29 Nov 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|The Rink, [[Salida, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Dick Gilbert
|PTS
|10
|16 Oct 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Salt Lake Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|PTS
|10
|7 Oct 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hector
|{{abbr|RTD|Referee technical decision}}
|3 (15)
|28 Sep 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fire Hall, [[Murray, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|31
|style="background:#DDD"|Draw
|21–1–5 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[John Lester Johnson]]
|NWS
|10
|14 Jul 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Harlem Sporting Club, [[Harlem, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|30
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|21–1–5 {{small|(3)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Bert Kenny
|NWS
|10
|8 Jul 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|29
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|21–1–5 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Andre Anderson (boxer)|Andre Anderson]]
|NWS
|10
|24 Jun 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fairmont Athletic Club, [[Bronx, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob York
|KO
|4 (6)
|30 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Eko Theatre, Price, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For Pacific Coast light-heavyweight title}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Dan Ketchell
|TKO
|3 (10)
|17 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Mozart Theatre, Provo, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|PTS
|10
|3 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Alhambra Theatre, Ogden, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Bonds
|PTS
|10
|8 Apr 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| George Christian
|KO
|1 (15)
|17 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Eko Theatre, [[Price, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Cyril Kohen
|KO
|4 (6)
|9 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Mozart Theatre, [[Provo, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bearcat
|KO
|1
|23 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Armory, [[Ogden, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|KO
|2
|21 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Swede Johnson
|KO
|2
|5 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg 
|KO
|2
|1 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, [[Ely, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Gillian
|TKO
|1 (4)
|20 Dec 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|17
|{{draw}}Draw
|10–1–5 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|PTS
|4
|13 Dec 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–1–4 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| George Coplen
|KO
|6 (10)
|19 Nov 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Lyric Opera House, [[Cripple Creek, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–1–4 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Andy Malloy
|KO
|3 (10)
|23 Oct 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moose Hall, Montrose, Colorado, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|8–1–4 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"| Andy Malloy
|{{abbr|NWS|Newspaper decision}}
|10
|7 Oct 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Gem Theatre, [[Durango, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Fred Woods
|KO
|4
|23 Sep 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moose Hall, [[Montrose, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|{{draw}}Draw
|7–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg
|PTS
|10
|11 Jun 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Airdome, [[Tonopah, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|11
|{{draw}}Draw
|7–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg
|PTS
|10
|31 May 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Hippodrome, [[Goldfield, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–1–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Emmanuel Campbell
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|4 (4)
|26 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Airdrome Arena, [[Reno, Arizona]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|9
|{{no2}}Loss
|6–1–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|PTS
|10
|5 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Chief Gordon
|KO
|6
|1 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| John Pierson
|KO
|7
|3 Mar 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|6
|{{draw}}Draw
|4–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Chief Geronimo
|PTS
|4
|26 Feb 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Pocatello, Idaho]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Lyons
|KO
|9
|2 Feb 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Battling Johnson
|KO
|1
|Jan 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Billy Murphy
|KO
|1 (4)
|30 Nov 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hancock
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (4)
|2 Nov 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, [[Salt Lake City]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|1
|{{draw}}Draw
|0–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Herman
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|6
|18 Aug 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Ramona Athletic Club Arena, [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|}

===Unofficial record===
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=10
|ko-wins=53
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=14
|dec-losses=5
|dq-wins=1
|dq-losses=0
}}
Record with the inclusion of [[newspaper decision]]s to the win/loss/draw column.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|84
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|68–6–10}}
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gene Tunney]]
|UD
|10
|[[The Long Count Fight|22 Sep 1927]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Soldier Field]], Chicago, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|83
|{{yes2}}Win
|68–5–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack Sharkey]]
|KO
|7 (15), {{small|0:45}}
|21 Jul 1927
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], New York City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|82
|{{no2}}Loss
|67–5–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gene Tunney]]
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|10
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney|23 Sep 1926]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Sesquicentennial Stadium]], Philadelphia,, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|81
|{{yes2}}Win
|67–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Luis Ángel Firpo]]
|TKO
|2 (15), {{small|0:57}}
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Ángel Firpo|14 Sep 1923]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Polo Grounds, New York City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and ''The Ring'' heavyweight titles}}
|-
|80
|{{yes2}}Win
|66–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Tommy Gibbons]]
|PTS
|15
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Tommy Gibbons|4 Jul 1923]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, [[Shelby, Montana]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC, NBA, and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|79
|{{yes2}}Win
|65–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Georges Carpentier]]
|KO
|4 (12)
|[[Jack Dempsey vs. Georges Carpentier|2 Jul 1921]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Boyle's Thirty Acres]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC and [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA heavyweight titles]]}}
|-
|78
|{{yes2}}Win
|64–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Bill Brennan (boxer)|Bill Brennan]]
|KO
|12 (15), {{small|1:57}}
|14 Dec 1920
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], New York City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained NYSAC heavyweight title}}
|-
|77
|{{yes2}}Win
|63–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|1:13}}
|6 Sep 1920
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Floyd Fitzsimmons Arena, [[Benton Harbor, Michigan]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Retained [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|76
|{{yes2}}Win
|62–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jess Willard]]
|RTD
|3 (12)
|[[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|4 Jul 1919]]
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bay View Park Arena, [[Toledo, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[List of world heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|75
|{{yes2}}Win
|61–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Tony Drake
|KO
|1
|2 Apr 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[New Haven, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|74
|{{yes2}}Win
|60–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Eddie Smith
|KO
|1
|13 Feb 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Altoona, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|73
|{{yes2}}Win
|59–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Kid Harris
|KO
|1
|29 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Easton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|72
|{{yes2}}Win
|58–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Kid Harris
|KO
|1
|23 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Reading, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|71
|{{yes2}}Win
|57–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Big Jack Hickey
|KO
|1
|20 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|70
|{{yes2}}Win
|56–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Maguire
|KO
|1
|16 Jan 1919
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Trenton, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|69
|{{yes2}}Win
|55–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gunboat Smith]]
|KO
|2 (8)
|16 Dec 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|68
|{{yes2}}Win
|54–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|KO
|1 (20), {{small|1:00}}
|16 Dec 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Louisiana Auditorium, [[New Orleans]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|67
|{{yes2}}Win
|53–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|NWS
|6
|28 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|66
|{{yes2}}Win
|52–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Dan Flynn (boxer)|Dan Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (6), {{small|2:16}}
|18 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|65
|{{yes2}}Win
|51–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Battling Levinsky]]
|KO
|3 (6)
|6 Nov 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Olympia Athletic Club, [[Philadelphia]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|64
|{{yes2}}Win
|50–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Jack Moran (boxer)|Jack Moran]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|14 Sep 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moana Springs Arena, Reno, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|63
|{{no2}}Loss
|49–4–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|13 Sep 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[San Francisco Civic Auditorium]], San Francisco, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|62
|{{yes2}}Win
|49–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|TKO
|5 (15)
|24 Aug 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Westwood Field Gym, [[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|61
|{{yes2}}Win
|48–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fred Fulton]]
|KO
|1 (8), {{small|0:23}}
|27 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Harrison Park (New Jersey)|Harrison Park]], [[Harrison, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|60
|{{yes2}}Win
|47–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Dan Flynn (boxer)|Dan Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (10)
|6 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (Atlanta)|Municipal Auditorium]], [[Atlanta]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|59
|{{yes2}}Win
|46–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob Devere
|KO
|1 (12)
|4 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Joe Becker Stadium]], Joplin, Missouri, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|58
|{{yes2}}Win
|45–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Tom McCarty
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|0:30}}
|1 Jul 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Tulsa Convention Hall]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|57
|{{yes2}}Win
|44–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Arthur Pelkey]]
|KO
|1 (15), {{small|1:00}}
|29 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Stockyards Stadium, [[Denver]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|56
|{{yes2}}Win
|43–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Dan Ketchell
|KO
|2 (10)
|22 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Excelsior Springs, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|55
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Billy Miske]]
|NWS
|10
|3 May 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Auditorium, [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|54
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Tom Riley
|KO
|1 (15)
|25 Mar 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Southwest Athletic Club, [[Joplin, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|53
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Fred Saddy
|KO
|1 (8)
|16 Mar 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Phoenix Athletic Club, [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|52
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Bill Brennan (boxer)|Bill Brennan]]
|TKO
|6 (10)
|25 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Milwaukee Auditorium]], [[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fireman Jim Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:10}}
|14 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Fort Sheridan, Illinois]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}}
|6 (10)
|2 Feb 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Broadway Auditorium]], [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Homer Smith
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|1:15}}
|24 Jan 1918
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Racine, Wisconsin]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|PTS
|4
|2 Nov 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|47
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Gunboat Smith]]
|PTS
|4
|2 Oct 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Recreation Park (San Francisco)|Recreation Park]], San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob McAllister
|PTS
|4
|26 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Charley Miller
|TKO
|1 (4)
|19 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|44
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|TKO
|1 (4)
|19 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|43
|{{draw}}Draw
|30–3–10
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|7 Sep 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|42
|{{draw}}Draw
|30–3–9
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|10 Aug 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–3–8
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|KO
|1 (4)
|1 Aug 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–3–8
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|25 Jul 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, Emeryville, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|39
|{{draw}}Draw
|28–3–8
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|PTS
|4
|11 Apr 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|West Oakland Club, Oakland, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–3–7
|style="text-align:left;"| Willie Meehan
|PTS
|4
|28 Mar 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Arena, [[Emeryville, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|37
|{{draw}}Draw
|28–2–7
|style="text-align:left;"| Al Norton
|PTS
|4
|21 Mar 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|West Oakland Club, [[Oakland, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|28–2–6
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Fireman Jim Flynn]]
|KO
|1 (15), {{small|0:25}}
|13 Feb 1917
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Trocadero Hall, Murray, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1–6
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hector
|KO
|2
|29 Nov 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|The Rink, [[Salida, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1–6
|style="text-align:left;"| Dick Gilbert
|PTS
|10
|16 Oct 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Salt Lake Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1–6
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|PTS
|10
|7 Oct 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1–6
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hector
|{{abbr|RTD|Referee technical decision}}
|3 (15)
|28 Sep 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fire Hall, [[Murray, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|31
|{{draw}}Draw
|24–1–6
|style="text-align:left;"| [[John Lester Johnson]]
|NWS
|10
|14 Jul 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Harlem Sporting Club, [[Harlem, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Bert Kenny
|NWS
|10
|8 Jul 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Andre Anderson (boxer)|Andre Anderson]]
|NWS
|10
|24 Jun 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Fairmont Athletic Club, [[Bronx, New York]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"| 
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Bob York
|KO
|4 (6)
|30 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Eko Theatre, Price, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For Pacific Coast light-heavyweight title}}
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Dan Ketchell
|TKO
|3 (10)
|17 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Mozart Theatre, Provo, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Terry Kellar]]
|PTS
|10
|3 May 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Alhambra Theatre, Ogden, Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Bonds
|PTS
|10
|8 Apr 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| George Christian
|KO
|1 (15)
|17 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Eko Theatre, [[Price, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Cyril Kohen
|KO
|4 (6)
|9 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Mozart Theatre, [[Provo, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bearcat
|KO
|1
|23 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Armory, [[Ogden, Utah]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|KO
|2
|21 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Swede Johnson
|KO
|2
|5 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, Ely, Nevada, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg 
|KO
|2
|1 Feb 1916
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Bijo Hall, [[Ely, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Gillian
|TKO
|1 (4)
|20 Dec 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|17
|{{draw}}Draw
|11–1–5
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|PTS
|4
|13 Dec 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Grand Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| George Coplen
|KO
|6 (10)
|19 Nov 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Lyric Opera House, [[Cripple Creek, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Andy Malloy
|KO
|3 (10)
|23 Oct 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moose Hall, Montrose, Colorado, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Andy Malloy
|{{abbr|NWS|Newspaper decision}}
|10
|7 Oct 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Gem Theatre, [[Durango, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Fred Woods
|KO
|4
|23 Sep 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Moose Hall, [[Montrose, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|{{draw}}Draw
|7–1–4
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg
|PTS
|10
|11 Jun 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Airdome, [[Tonopah, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|11
|{{draw}}Draw
|7–1–3
|style="text-align:left;"| Johnny Sudenberg
|PTS
|10
|31 May 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Hippodrome, [[Goldfield, Nevada]] U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–1–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Emmanuel Campbell
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|4 (4)
|26 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Airdrome Arena, [[Reno, Arizona]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|9
|{{no2}}Loss
|6–1–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Jack Downey
|PTS
|10
|5 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Chief Gordon
|KO
|6
|1 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| John Pierson
|KO
|7
|3 Mar 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|6
|{{draw}}Draw
|4–0–2
|style="text-align:left;"| Chief Geronimo
|PTS
|4
|26 Feb 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|[[Pocatello, Idaho]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Lyons
|KO
|9
|2 Feb 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Battling Johnson
|KO
|1
|Jan 1915
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Utah, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Billy Murphy
|KO
|1 (4)
|30 Nov 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, Salt Lake City, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Hancock
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|1 (4)
|2 Nov 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Garrick Theater, [[Salt Lake City]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|1
|{{draw}}Draw
|0–0–1
|style="text-align:left;"| Young Herman
|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}
|6
|18 Aug 1914
|style="text-align:left;"| {{small|Ramona Athletic Club Arena, [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|}

==Titles in boxing==
===Major world titles===
* [[list of world heavyweight boxing champions|World heavyweight champion]] (200+&nbsp;lbs)
* [[New York State Athletic Commission|NYSAC]] [[heavyweight]] champion{{Efn|Inaugural champion.|name=a}} (200+&nbsp;lbs)
* [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|NBA (WBA) heavyweight champion]]{{Efn|Inaugural champion.|name=a}} (200+&nbsp;lbs)

===''The Ring'' magazine titles===
* [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]]{{Efn|Inaugural champion.|name=a}} (200+&nbsp;lbs)

===Undisputed titles===
* [[list of undisputed world boxing champions#Heavyweight|Undisputed heavyweight champion]]{{Efn|Recognized as the first ever undisputed heavyweight champion.|name=b}}

==Published works==
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fo2lngEACAAJ&q=How+to+Fight+Tough |first1=Lt. Jack |last1=Dempsey |first2=Bernard J. |last2=Cosneck|publisher=Paladin Press |format=Softcover |isbn=978-1-58160-315-6 |page=136 |title=How to Fight Tough |location=Boulder, Colo |orig-year=1942|year=2002}}
* {{cite book |last1=Dempsey |first1=Jack |first2=Frank G. |last2=Menke |title=How to Fight Tough |location=Boulder, Colorado |publisher=Paladin Press |year=2002 |type=Print |isbn=1581603150 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Jack |last1=Dempsey |title=Jack Dempsey's Championship Fighting: Explosive punching and aggressive defense |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2015 |page=205|isbn=978-1-5011-1148-8}}
* {{cite book |first1=Jack |last1=Dempsey |first2=Myron Morris |last2=Stearns |location=New York |publisher=Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill |title=Round by Round |year=1940 |type=Hardcover |page=285}}
* {{cite book |title=Dempsey By The Man Himself As Told To Bob Considine and Bill Slocum |first1=Jack |last1=Dempsey |first2=Bob |last2=Considine |author-link2=Bob Considine |first3=Bill |last3=Slocum |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |year=1960 |type=Hardcover}}
* {{cite book |first1=Jack |last1=Dempsey |first2=Barbara Piattelli |last2=Dempsey |title=Dempsey:The Autobiography of Jack Dempsey |location=London|publisher=W. H. Allen, Harper & Row |year=1977 |page=320 |isbn=0-491-02301-4}} {{ISBN|9780491023016}}

==See also==
*[[List of heavyweight boxing champions]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Notes list}}

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

===References===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine |author=McGuinness, James Kevin |author-link=James Kevin McGuinness |date=March 14, 1925 |title=A symbol in pugilism |department=Profiles |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=15–16 }}
* {{cite book |first1=Randy |last1=Roberts |title=Jack Dempsey: The Manassa Mauler |orig-year=1979|year=1987 |page=336 |location=Urbana, Illinois |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=0252071484}}
* Williams, Iain Cameron. ''The KAHNS of Fifth Avenue: the Crazy Rhythm of Otto Hermann Kahn and the Kahn Family'', 2022, iwp publishing, {{ISBN|978-1916146587}}, chapter 16 – details in-depth Dempsey's marriage to [[Hannah Williams (actress)|Hannah Williams]], the former wife of [[Otto Hermann Kahn]]'s son [[Roger Wolfe Kahn]].

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons}}
*{{Boxrec|id=009009}}
*https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/NYSAC_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights
*https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/NBA_World_Heavyweight_Title_Fights
*[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/dempsey.html Boxing Hall of Fame]
*[https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Dempsey_Jack.html ESPN.com]
*[https://ringobserver.com/close-encounters-with-jack-dempsey/ Close encounters with Jack Dempsey feature]
*{{YouTube|N3P00DwCVcE|Comprehensive video highlights of Jack Dempsey and his contemporaries}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.tipsontables.com/jackdempseys.html |title=Tips on Tables: Jack Dempsey's Is Notable For Special Dishes |first1=Robert W. |last1=Dana |publisher=Tips on Tables.com |date=August 1, 1949 |access-date=June 22, 2012}} Jack Dempsey's New York Restaurant
*{{cite web |url=http://www.historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/jackdempseylovedfighting.html |title=Jack Dempsey Loved Fighting, Mining, and Cowboying |first1=Jeffrey D. |last1=Nichols |work=History Blazer |publisher=[[Utah State Historical Society]], Utah.gov |date=March 1995 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191448/http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/from_war_to_war/jackdempseylovedfighting.html |url-status=dead }}
*[http://www.jitterbuzz.com/menus.html Free Downloadable Menu from Jack Dempsey's New York Restaurant]
*{{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]] |date=September 10, 1923 |access-date=January 20, 2014}}
*[https://www.thefightcity.com/jack-dempsey-comeback-part-two-boxing/]
*[http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/person/9660/jack-dempsey Jack Dempsey] at Virtual History
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/dempsey.htm Jack Dempsey profile] at Cyber Boxing Zone
*[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e9/a9/8b/e9a98b31ce67f02e496e3816f8e6d2a6.jpg advertising poster to the Carpentier fight, 1921]
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-non|reason=Inaugural champion}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'' heavyweight champion]]
|years=1922 – [[The Long Count Fight|September 23, 1926]]}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Gene Tunney]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jess Willard]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=World heavyweight champion
|years=[[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|July 4, 1919]] – [[Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney|September 23, 1926]]}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-before|before=[[John L. Sullivan]]<br>2 566 days}}
{{s-ttl|title=Longest world heavyweight<br />championship reign<br />{{small|2 638 days (7 years, 2 months, 19 days)<br>2 567 days on July 14, 1926}}
|years=September 23, 1926 – September 12, 1944}}
{{s-after|after=[[Joe Louis]]}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-before|before=[[David Lloyd George]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of covers of Time magazine (1920s)|Cover of ''Time'' magazine]]
|years=September 10, 1923}}
{{s-after|after=[[Israel Zangwill]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Sugar Ray Robinson Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dempsey, Jack}}
[[Category:Jack Dempsey| ]]
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