Gene Dempsey Was The Most Popular Boxing Match In The 1920s

Boxing

In the 1920’s sports of all kind skyrocketed in popularity as Americans all over the world become fans of a variety of sports. Boxing was one of many sports that took the spotlight racking millions of fans. The match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney was the most popular boxing match in the 1920s that had millions watching and listening in through the radio.

Gene Tunney was born May 25, 1879 to a working class irish catholic family in New York city. Growing up he practiced boxing in Greenwich Village Athletic Club further honing his skills as a boxer. When 1915 hits Gene Tunney becomes a professional boxer, at this time he had his first victory against a young accomplished boxer named Bobby Dawson. In 1917 he join the marines and

Williams brother bernie earned money as a prize fighter and taught him how to fight and from 1911 through 1916 he went from mining town to mining town picking up fights to make money.In 1914 his brother fell ill and he offered to fill in for him as jack dempsey and by 1917 he had enough reputation to book more prominent fights and better paying fights in San Francisco. In 1919 Jack got the opportunity to fight against heavyweight champion “The Great White”. After his victory ““Dempsey successfully defended his heavyweight title five times over the next six years, in what is considered one of the greatest runs in boxing history”(

Over 100,000 fans gathered to see this fight. The boxing match earned a record gate of 1.8 million dollars to see Gene Tunney defend his title against Jack Dempsey. There was rumors that Al Capone tried to fix the fight so the referee was switched out at the last minute.On september 22, 1927 The boxing match that would be later called “The Battle of The Long Count”took place in Soldier Field, Chicago. Before the fight started both fighters were told about the neutral corner rule then the match starts. Once the fight started Gene Tunney charge of the fight racking up points against dempsey keeping him at bay. Once the seventh round hit old Jack came back and knocked Gene down in three hits. After Jack knocked down Gene Tunney he failed to go to the neutral corner giving Gene Tunney 5 more seconds to get back up and proceed to win the fight.“ Dempsey shuffled across the ring, finally remembering the new rule that had been twice told to him before the match. Barry then began the 10-count, and Tunney got up at nine.”(History)

In the 1920’s the rematch between defending world heavyweight champion Gene Tunney and former world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey was the most popular boxing match of all time. The boxing match between Gene Tunney and Jack dempsey skyrocketed the popularity of boxing for generations to