How Jack Dempsey Went From Being A Heavyweight Champion To A 75-Year-Old Street Vigilante
The legendary boxer was still a dangerous man well into his later years, as two criminals found out the hard way
During a vaunted boxing career, heavyweight Jack Dempsey became one of the most successful and famous athletes in the history of the world. Feared for his devastating ability to punch, he apparently maintained his knack of landing knockout blows, as long after he retired as a fighter he laid out two would be muggers on the streets of New York as a 75-year-old retiree.
Nicknamed the Manassa Mauler, Dempsey was born in 1895 and grew up in Colorado. He entered boxing as a young man and quickly proved to be a star, dominating opponents with his aggressive and hard hitting style. Author Roger Kahn once described him as a “true brawler, mean as a snake.” He served as the world heavyweight champion from 1919–1926 and was one of the most recognizable stars in the world during the 1920s. His fights drew record crowds and revenue, including the first ever $1 million gate.
Dempsey retired from boxing in 1940, having accumulated a career record of 68–6–9 with 53 knockouts. Following his departure from fighting, he served as a public figure, opened and operated…
