- One night while in his mid-seventies, Dempsey was leaving his New York restaurant as two young men attempted to mug him. Dempsey held them until the NYPD arrived.
- He knocked-out millionaire Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted to see "what it would be like to spar with the heavyweight champion".
- Former heavyweight boxing champ/actor.
- World heavyweight boxing champion, 1919-1926. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990.
- 1927 rematch against Gene Tunney known as "the long count." Dempsey knocked Tunney down for 14 to 18 seconds in the 7th round, but the referee did not start his count immediately, so Tunney got the extra time, then got up at 9 and went on to win the fight.
- Including exhibitions, scored 65 first round knockout victories.
- He had two daughters named Barbara. His first was born in 1936, with wife Hannah. His second daughter, with wife Deanna, was already named Barbara when he adopted her.
- Retired in 1927 but made a comeback in 1932 fighting over 100 exhibitions, sometimes knocking out 5 opponents in one night.
- Pictured on one of fifteen 32¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the "Celebrate the Century" series, issued 3 February 1998, celebrating the 1910s.
- Lost heavyweight title in 1926 to Gene Tunney.
- In 1940 at age 45, he knocked out 3 professional wrestlers in the month of July.
- He knocked out 6 feet 6 inch Fred Fulton in 14 seconds.
- Began his boxing career as Kid Blackie and fought in mining and lumberjack camps, bars, saloons, and hobo camps.
- Early in his career was knocked out in one round by "Fireman" Jim Flynn. A year later, Dempsey knocked out Flynn in one round.
- In the 1960s, Mr. Dempsey served as a celebrity spokesman (even before the practice was commonplace) for the Chicago based DeVry Technical Institute (now DeVry University).
- Born at 11:00pm-MST
- He had two daughters with his wife Hannah. Joan Hannah was born in 1934 and Barbara was born in 1936.
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 223-226. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
- Beat Dick Gilbert.
- In a 1960 newspaper article, stated that he suffered the worst pounding of his career at the hands of John Lester Johnson.
- Managed early in his career by Billy Madden.
- Was a Professional Wrestler and Referee.
- Pro Wrestling Referee.
- Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1980.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content