"Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey
(John Edward Kelly)
BORN December 15 1862; Curran, County Kildare, Ireland DIED November 1 1895; Portland, Oregon HEIGHT 5-8 WEIGHT 128-152 1/4 lbs RACE White; Irish-American MANAGERS John Shanley, Jake Stearns, Warren Lewis, Arthur T. Lumley, Gus Tuthill, Charley Dexter, Billy Madden, Denny Costigan TRAINER Alf Power Jack Dempsey is considered by many as one of the greatest boxers pound-for-pound who ever fought in the ring; He moved well and was extremely quick, agile, and skillful
He was a two-handed fighter who could box or punch; His jab was quick and accurate; His right hand punch was stiff; He was game and cool under pressure; He could fight whatever style was needed to win; In short, he was a crafty boxer-puncher who was an excellent ring general
He often fought men 10-25 pounds heavier; Many felt that Jack would beat the Heavyweight Champion, John L. Sullivan, if he were only a little heavier
Dempsey was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 19921883 Apr 7 Edward "Rug" McDonald Maspeth, NY KO 21 -Some sources report "KO 27" Aug 14 Jack Boylan Flushing, NY KO 23 Sep 3 Harry Force Coney Island, NY NC 11 -Police intervened Sep 17 Thomas "Soap" McAlpine New York, NY D 4 Oct 15 Jack Boylan New York, NY ND 6 -Some sources report "KO 6" Nov 10 Billy Frazier W 6 Nov 25 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull New York, NY D 8 1884 Jan William Mahoney New York, NY KO 3 Feb 10 Joe Heiser Williamsburg, NY D 8 Feb 14 Jim Fell New York, NY KO 2 Feb 28 Jim Barry New York, NY KO 3 Mar 2 Joe Hennessey New York, NY KO 4 Mar 4 Tom Sullivan New York, NY KO 2 Mar 6 Billy Dacey Coney Island, NY KO 9 -Lightweight Championship of New York Apr 2 Mike Mallory Brooklyn, NY EX 3 Apr 14 Jim Sweeney New York, NY EX 4 Apr 25 Joe Hayes New York, NY D 6 May 1 Jack Bowles New York, NY KO 6 Jul 9 Tom Henry Far Rockaway, NY NC 3 -Police intervened Jul 14 George Fulljames near Baltimore, Md SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Authorities prevented it Jul 22 George Fulljames Oak Island, NY SCH -Both men were present but Fulljames decided not to fight with such a strong Dempsey crowd on hand at the obscure site Jul 30 George Fulljames Great Kill, NY KO 22 -Middleweight Championship of America Aug 2 "Professor" Walter Watson Philadelphia, Pa EX 4 Aug Jimmy Hurst SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Hurst left town Sep 4 Mike Dempsey Rockaway, NY KO 7 Sep 15 Jimmy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa NC 7 Oct 8 Robert "Cocky" Turnbull New York, NY W 8 Oct 24 Tom Henry New York, NY W 6 Nov 6 Tom Ferguson New York, NY W 4 Nov 20 Billy Frazier New York, NY TK 5 Nov 20 Jimmy Ryan New York, NY W 5 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Nov 30 Mike Mallon Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Dec 9 Denny Costigan New York, NY EX 4 Dec 15 George Wilson Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 1883-1885 Jim Corbett San Francisco, Ca EX 1885 Jan 12 Billy Frazier New York, NY ND 4 Jan 12 Jimmy Ryan New York, NY ND 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date John Banks New York, NY W Jan 22 Jim Fell New York, NY W 4 Mar 19 Charles Bixamos New Orleans, La KO 5 May 4 Tom Barry San Francisco, Ca KO 5 George LaBlanche Boston Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled May 11 Tom Cleary San Francisco, Ca KO 5 Jun 5 Jim Carr San Francisco, Ca KO 9 Jul 4 James Rodda Nevada City, Nv W 2 Jul 20 Jack Keenan San Francisco, Ca KO 2 Aug 29 Billy Manning Los Angeles, Ca KO 7 Sep 12 Tom Norton Sacramento, Ca KO 4 Nov 2 Dave Campbell Washington Territory KO 3 Dec 16 Tom Barry Portland, Or KO 6 1886 Jan 13 Mike Mullery New York, NY EX Jan 15 Jimmy Murray New York, NY W 4 Jan 15 Tom Henry New York, NY W 4 Jan 15 Mike Donovan New York, NY EX 4 -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Feb 3 Jack Fogarty New York, NY KO 27 -Middleweight Championship of America Feb 24 Pete McCoy Jersey City, NJ W 6 Mar 3 Joe Denning Newark, NJ EX 3 Mar 14 George LaBlanche Larchmont, NY KO 13 -Middleweight Championship of the America; Some sources report Middleweight Championship of the World; Some sources report 3/04/86; Some sources report "Long Island, NY" Apr 10 Mike Cleary New York, NY EX 3 Apr 10 Jack Fogarty New York, NY EX 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date; Dempsey was presented with the Police Gazette Championship Belt Apr 26 Ned McCann Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 -Some sources report "KO 4" Apr 28 Charles "Bull" McCarthy Philadelphia, Pa ND 4 Apr 30 Jimmy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa W 4 May 20 Paddy Norton St. Paul, Mn W 4 -Some sources report 5/12/86 May 31 John L. Sullivan Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jun 1 Patsy Cardiff Minneapolis, Mn SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Ed Moehler Minneapolis, Mn W 4 Nov 22 Jack Burke San Francisco, Ca D 10 Dec 20 Jack Keenan Cheyenne, Wy EX 3 Dec 27 Denny Costigan Milwaukee, Wi EX 3 1887 Jan 31 Mike Boden Philadelphia, Pa W 4 Feb 2 Jack Langdon Philadelphia, Pa W 4 Feb 5 Denny Killen Philadelphia, Pa W 4 Mar 15 Denny Costigan Rochester, NY EX Mar 22 Denny Costigan Detroit, Mi EX Apr 9 Billy Baker Buffalo, NY ND 4 May 2 Stephan "Reddy" Gallagher Cleveland, Oh D 6 Jul 4 Jack Ashton Providence, RI EX Oct 10 Eddie Reede Hoboken, NJ W 4 -Some sources report "W 6" Oct 13 Jim McHugh Hoboken, NJ W 4 Oct 15 Billy Dacey Hoboken, NJ W 4 Oct 31 Ned McCann Wilmington, De W 4 Nov 1 Frank Bosworth Wilmington, De W 4 Nov 3 Denny Kelliher Wilmington, De W 4 Nov 5 Bill Gabig Wilmington, De W 4 Nov Joe Ellingsworth Wilmington, De SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Nov Pete McCoy Boston, Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled for the first week of Nov 1887 but was cancelled; McCoy became barred from fighting at the club Dec 13 Johnny Reagan Manhasset, NY TK 45 -Middleweight Championship of America; This bout was fought in two rings; Reagan cut a four-inch gash in Dempsey's shin with his spikes Dec 22 Joe Denning Brooklyn, NY EX 2 Dec 22 Tom Henry Brooklyn, NY EX 2 Dec 22 Jack McAuliffe Brooklyn, NY EX 2 -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date Dec 29 Tom Henry Brooklyn, NY EX 3 1888 Jan 3 Billy Madden New York, NY EX 3 -Dempsey appeared in the play, "Around New York" during Jan 3-7 and sparred three rounds with Madden Jan Billy Madden Baltimore, Md SCH 3 -Dempsey was to spar 3 rounds nightly with Madden
in the play, "Around New York" during Jan 1888
Jan Billy Madden Washington, DC SCH 3 -Dempsey was to spar 3 rounds nightly with Madden
in the play, "Around New York" during Jan 1888
Jan 23 Denny Kelliher Boston, Ma EX 3 Jan 31 Dominick McCaffrey Jersey City, NJ W 10 Feb 7 Denny Costigan Rochester, NY SCH -Dempsey and Costigan were scheduled to spar in Madden's play during the week; Then, tour the "Middle States" and be on the road until Spring Feb 9 Tom Henry Troy, NY EX Feb 18 Billy Baker Buffalo, NY ND 4 -Some sources report "ND 1" Mar 26 Denny Costigan Brooklyn, NY EX Apr 3 Joe Denning Brooklyn, NY EX 4 Apr 9 Joe Coburn Boston, Ma EX Apr 23 James Stevens Williamsburg, NY W 4 Jun 4 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX Nov 15 Mike Donovan Williamsburg, NY D 6 Dec 9 Denny Costigan Brooklyn, NY EX -Dempsey and Costigan were scheduled to spar several times during the week 1889 Feb 4 Denny Costigan Buffalo, NY EX 3 Feb 10 -Dempsey and Costigan made provisions to go to San Francisco, Ca with a variety show and give sparring exhibitions Mar 18 Jim Daly Houtzdale, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Apr -Dempsey was scheduled to spar all week in Brooklyn, NY from Apr 15-20 Apr 24 Denny Costigan Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Jun 10 Mike Lucie San Francisco, Ca EX 3 Aug 22 Mike Dempsey San Francisco, Ca KO 7 Aug 27 George LaBlanche San Francisco, Ca LK 32 -This bout was originally called a Middleweight Championship of the World contest; But, when LaBlanche weighed in at 161 lbs, it was declared a non-title bout; Also, LaBlanche was accused of using an illegal punch, the "pivot" blow; LaBlanche claimed the title as a result of the win Oct 8 -Dempsey drubbed the featherweight boxer, Tommy Warren, in a "barroom" fight at San Francisco, Ca 1890 Feb 18 "Australian" Billy McCarthy San Francisco, Ca TK 28 -Middleweight Championship of the World Feb 26 -Some sources report that Dempsey and LaBlanche attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco California AC; LaBlanche turned down $1,000 for a rematch Mar 13 John Clark Seattle, Wa ND 4 May 16 Dave Campbell Seattle, Wa EX Jun 27 Paddy Gorman Aspen, Co EX Jul 4 Paddy Gorman St. Louis, Mo EX Jul 28 Mike Brennan Buffalo, NY EX Aug 25 Jimmy Carroll Brooklyn, NY EX 1891 Jan 14 Bob Fitzsimmons New Orleans, La LT 13 -Middleweight Championship of the World "Mysterious" Billy Smith San Francisco, Ca EX Oct 16 Young Mitchell San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Nov 9 Young Mitchell Portland, Or EX 6 -This bout was held during Nov 9-12 1891 Nov 16 Young Mitchell Brooklyn, NY EX Nov 16 Young Mitchell Brooklyn, NY EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Nov 18 Young Mitchell Brooklyn, NY SCH Nov 19 Young Mitchell Brooklyn, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled but not held; Dempsey was ill 1892 Aug 16 "Mysterious" Billy Smith Portland, Or EX Sep 20 -Dempsey refereed the "Mysterious" Billy Smith vs. Billy "Shadow" Maber bout at Portland, Or; Some sources report 9/21/92 1893 Mar 1 Billy Keough Portland, Or W 4 -Weights: 148-190 Jul 30 -Dempsey refereed the Spider Kelly-Eddie Morrissey bout at Tacoma, Wa Sep 4 Bob Fitzsimmons New York, NY EX 3 Sep 25 Denny Costigan Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 Oct 7 John Clark Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; It was cancelled due to the small crowd Nov 9 Denny Costigan Buffalo, NY EX Nov -Dempsey was scheduled to spar all week in New York, NY from Nov 13-18 Dec Denny Costigan Boston, Ma EX Dec 14 Dick Moore Boston, Ma EX 3 Dec 30 Joe Fielden Washington, DC EX 3 1894 Jan 7 Denny Costigan Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Apr 7 Harry Wyatt Buffalo, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Sep 4 Bob Fitzsimmons New Orleans, La EX Sep 5 "Australian" Billy McCarthy New Orleans, La D 20 Nov 7 Tommy Ryan New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held Dec 6 Andy Bowen Savannah, Ga EX Dec 11 Tommy Ryan New Orleans, La SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held 1895 Jan 18 Tommy Ryan Coney Island, NY LT 3 -Welterweight Championship of the World Jun 8 John L. Sullivan New York, NY EX*** NCR ALL-TIME MIDDLEWEIGHT COMPUTER TOURNAMENT ***1969 "Sugar" Ray Robinson LT 11
Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
[Return to Top] The Cyber Boxing Zone WAIL ! Article on "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey (Jan 1999)
The Cyber Boxing Zone WAIL ! Article on Pound-For-Pound (August 1998)
Tracy Callis All-Time Rankings
