For anyone who wishes to comment on this, please, in accordance with the sticky on this forum, let's keep it civil. We are here merely to discuss the facts.
Here is an article from the New York Times dated August 19th, 1926.
Here are the highlights:
1. Dempsey says that he has wanted to fight Wills since 1919, and that Wills is the only fighter that he has wanted to face.
2. Dempsey says that he has never drawn the color-line.
3. Dempsey says that he has made great efforts to make the Wills fight, but no promoter would step up.
4. Dempsey says that he will now stop being silent on the issue and demand the fight be made, or demand to know why not.
5. Dempsey issues a winner take all challenge to Wills, if Wills can match his sum of $150,000.
First of all, one poster here has mentioned that the above information is so unbelievable that this article is a complete and utter fabrication on the part of the New York Times. In my opinion, that is ludicrous. This article can still be found at the NYTImes website today, and there are 2 additional articles relating to it, which I will post. One is regarding Wills manager stating that Dempsey is bluffing with this offer, complete with quotations from Harry Wills himself, and the other is Dempsey following up saying that this is no bluff.
So I would first like to know, what logical proof is there that this article is a fabrication?
Second, how much do you believe these statements by Dempsey. We have to admit that there are lots of fabrications here.
1. Hard to believe that Dempsey has wanted to fight Wills and only Wills since 1919. You would think the fight would have happened by the time of this article. He does blame it on promoters, but we know he broke a valid contract according to a US court to get out of fighting Wills. This is verifiable fact.
2. He did indeed draw the color line on two occasions. This is also verifiable fact and there are direct quotations from him to prove it.
3. Again, if Dempsey went through such great efforts to make the Wills fight, why did he break a valid contract to fight him?
4. After nearly 8 years, why is Dempsey suddenly saying that he will demand this fight or demand to know why it can't happen. Even saying that he will take it to Tijuana if need be. Why did it take 8 years for him to "make a stand"?
5. Is it believable that Dempsey is willing to face Wills for at most $300,000 and as little as $0????? Hasn't he always claimed that the fight didn't happen because of financial issues? Didn't he leave a $300,000 guaranteed check (only to be an initial payment) on the table in Chicago when he broke the contract to face Wills?
According to Wills side in the article that I will post later here, Dempsey should be well aware that a winner take all bout would be ILLEGAL everywhere because it would make the contest into a prize fight, which was illegal at the time. Also, side bets on fights were illegal, according to Wills' manager.
So who believes that the New York Times made up quotations from Dempsey, Mullins, and Wills regarding this statement? And Who believes that these statements by Dempsey are all truthful and believable?
Here is an article from the New York Times dated August 19th, 1926.
Here are the highlights:
1. Dempsey says that he has wanted to fight Wills since 1919, and that Wills is the only fighter that he has wanted to face.
2. Dempsey says that he has never drawn the color-line.
3. Dempsey says that he has made great efforts to make the Wills fight, but no promoter would step up.
4. Dempsey says that he will now stop being silent on the issue and demand the fight be made, or demand to know why not.
5. Dempsey issues a winner take all challenge to Wills, if Wills can match his sum of $150,000.
First of all, one poster here has mentioned that the above information is so unbelievable that this article is a complete and utter fabrication on the part of the New York Times. In my opinion, that is ludicrous. This article can still be found at the NYTImes website today, and there are 2 additional articles relating to it, which I will post. One is regarding Wills manager stating that Dempsey is bluffing with this offer, complete with quotations from Harry Wills himself, and the other is Dempsey following up saying that this is no bluff.
So I would first like to know, what logical proof is there that this article is a fabrication?
Second, how much do you believe these statements by Dempsey. We have to admit that there are lots of fabrications here.
1. Hard to believe that Dempsey has wanted to fight Wills and only Wills since 1919. You would think the fight would have happened by the time of this article. He does blame it on promoters, but we know he broke a valid contract according to a US court to get out of fighting Wills. This is verifiable fact.
2. He did indeed draw the color line on two occasions. This is also verifiable fact and there are direct quotations from him to prove it.
3. Again, if Dempsey went through such great efforts to make the Wills fight, why did he break a valid contract to fight him?
4. After nearly 8 years, why is Dempsey suddenly saying that he will demand this fight or demand to know why it can't happen. Even saying that he will take it to Tijuana if need be. Why did it take 8 years for him to "make a stand"?
5. Is it believable that Dempsey is willing to face Wills for at most $300,000 and as little as $0????? Hasn't he always claimed that the fight didn't happen because of financial issues? Didn't he leave a $300,000 guaranteed check (only to be an initial payment) on the table in Chicago when he broke the contract to face Wills?
According to Wills side in the article that I will post later here, Dempsey should be well aware that a winner take all bout would be ILLEGAL everywhere because it would make the contest into a prize fight, which was illegal at the time. Also, side bets on fights were illegal, according to Wills' manager.
So who believes that the New York Times made up quotations from Dempsey, Mullins, and Wills regarding this statement? And Who believes that these statements by Dempsey are all truthful and believable?
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