Jack Dempsey - Portrait by Arthur K Miller.

William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey, nicknamed "Kid Blackie" and "The Manassa Mauler", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. Wikipedia Born: June 24, 1895, Manassa, CO Died: May 31, 1983, New York City, NY Height: 6′ 1″ Spouse: Deanna Piatelli (m. 1958–1983), MORE Quotes A champion is someone who gets up when he can't. By forgetting the past and by throwing myself into other interests, I forget to worry. I was a pretty good fighter. But it was the writers who made me great. Overview (5) Born June 24, 1895 in Manassa, Colorado, USA Died May 31, 1983 in New York City, New York, USA (heart failure) Birth Name William Harrison Dempsey Nicknames The Manassa Mauler Tiger Height 6' 0¾" (1.85 m) Mini Bio (1) Jack Dempsey's life story could have been a Hollywood script. Born to a dirt-poor farming family, young Dempsey took up boxing with his older brother. Turning professional under the name Kid Blackie, Dempsey fought in saloons, coal-mining towns, back allies, lumberjack camps, and numerous hick and tank towns around the United States. Pocessing speed, toughness, and one-punch knockout power, Dempsey quickly started racking up a series of knockouts. Defeats to "Fireman" Jim Flynn, Willie Meehan, and Jack Downey, kept Dempsey in the minor circuit. It wasn't until he met manager Jack "Doc" Hearns did Dempsey's career take off. After scoring 5 consecutive first round knockouts, Dempsey met Jess Williard for the World's Heavyweight Boxing Title on July 4, 1919. Dempsey butchered the 6 ft 6 inch 270 pound Williard, knocking him down seven times in round one, and finally stopping him in the third. Dempsey became the first fighter to generate a million dollar gate. His knockouts over Luis Firpo and George Carpienter are legendary. He lost his tile after almost 7 years to Gene Tunney. Lost to Tunney in the "Battle of the Long Count" and retired. In 1931, at 36, Jack Dempsey announced his comeback and fought hundreds of exhibitions. He knocked-out over 40 opponents, sometimes 3 or 4 in one night. In 1940, at 45, he returned for the final time and knocked out 3 opponents in one month. Dempsey went on to run his famous restaurant on Broadway for almost 50 years. - IMDb Mini Biography By: angelsunchained Spouse (4) Deanna Piatelli (1964 - 31 May 1983) ( his death) ( 1 child) Hannah Williams (18 July 1933 - 7 July 1943) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Estelle Taylor (7 February 1925 - 1930) ( divorced) Maxine Gates (9 October 1916 - 2 April 1919) ( divorced) Trivia (24) Born at 11:00pm-MST Former heavyweight boxing champ/actor. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1919-1926. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990. Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1980. 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. 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. He had two daughters with his wife Hannah. Joan Hannah was born in 1934 and Barbara was born in 1936. 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. Including exhibitions, scored 65 first round knockout victories. He knocked-out millionaire Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted to see "what it would be like to spar with the heavyweight champion". 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. Retired in 1927 but made a comeback in 1932 fighting over 100 exhibitions, sometimes knocking out 5 opponents in one night. 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. 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. 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. Managed early in his career by Billy Madden. Dempsey was considered to be a "slacker" in the U;S. involvement in World War I for his opting to avoid military service by working in the Brooklyn Naval Yards; which was classified as an essential industry in the War. Dempsey (biography) by Jack Dempsey, 1977. 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). Jack redeemed himself and restored is good reputation by serving as a commissioned officer (Lieutenant) and director of physical training for the United States Coast Guard. Kill the other guy before he kills you. [on Rudolph Valentino] He was the most virile and masculine of men. The women were like flies to a honey pot. He could never shake them off when he went out. What a lovely, lucky guy!