Following his September 1923 victory over Luis Ángel Firpo, world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey had been linked to a number of bouts including rematches with Firpo and Tommy Gibbons, as well as Harry Wills.[2][3] Nevertheless nothing materialized and the champion remained absent from the ring. By August 1925, after almost two years of inactively, the New York Herald sport writer Jack Lawrence was suggesting that NYSAC should strip Dempsey as it appeared both he and his manager Jack Kearns were afraid of Wills and instead have the vacant title contested between Wills and fellow top contender Gene Tunney.[4] On 30 September 1925 Dempsey signed to face Wills the following September in Michigan City, Indiana.[5] However by January 1926, it was reported that the fight promoter, Floyd Fitzsimmons, can failed to provide the promised collateral and as a result Tex Rickard was attempting to stage a bout between Dempsey and Tunney in July at Boyle's Thirty AcresJersey City, New Jersey.[6] In March the New York Herald Tribune reported that it had been agreed for an August 12 rounder.[7][8] After reports that it was set for Chicago on either 11 or 18 September[9], it was finalized for September 16 at Yankee StadiumNew York City.[10] However, on August 16, Dempsey was denied a license to fight in New York by the State Athletic Commission until he defended against Wills.[11] As a result the bout was moved to Philadelphia and set for the 23 September, almost three years to the day since Dempsey's last title defence.
Most boxing insiders backed Dempsey to win,[12] with the bookmakers recording odds of up 13 to 5 on for the champion to win.[13]
The fight
Almost 140,000 fans inside the Sesquicentennial Stadium
As the rain fell, Tunney would stun the world by dominating the champion. The challenger would land numerous short lefts and right hooks at range to the uncharacteristically timid champion so that at the end of the 10 round fight his left eye was completely closed and the left side of his face was badly swollen.[14] Tunney was awarded an unanimous decision victory.
Aftermath
When the defeated Dempsey returned to his dressing room, he explained his loss to his wife by saying, "Honey, I forgot to duck."[15] Fifty-five years later president Ronald Reagan borrowed this quote when his wife Nancy visited him in the emergency room after the attempt on his life.[16]
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