Nonpareil Dempsey
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| Jack Dempsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Edward Kelly December 15, 1862 Curran, County Kildare |
| Died | November 2, 1895 (aged 32) New York City, New York |
| Other names | Nonpareil |
| Nationality |  Irish |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Williamsburg, New York |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 65 |
| Wins | 49 |
| By knockout | 23 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| Draws | 11 |
John Edward Kelly (December 15, 1862 – November 1, 1895) was an Irish-born champion boxer. At 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) height, he was better known as Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey, called "Nonpareil" because no one could defeat him. In 65 contests, he lost only 3 times (to George LaBlanche (a loss he avenged) and to Billy Baker twice (both bouts were fixed to have Baker win)).[1] This ended when Bob Fitzsimmons pummelled him around the ring and begged him to concede before he was hurt any more. Dempsey, the reigning champion, would not give up; the fight continued and Fitzsimmons knocked him out in round 13.
Dempsey was born on December 15, 1862 in Curran, County Kildare, Ireland.[2] He died of tuberculosis (the same disease that he'd previously recovered from which caused his loss to Tommy Ryan, in what would be his final bout) at age 33, on November 1, 1895, at the Portland, Oregon, United States home of his wife's parents.[3] He was buried in an unmarked grave at Mount Calvary Cemetery. M. James Brady, Dempsey's father-in-law, refused to permit former World Champion John L. Sullivan and John S. Barnes to raise funds to erect a monument over Dempsey's grave. The family believed that the four-foot marble shaft was a sufficient memorial. The matter was thus dropped.[4]
Dempsey was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954, and into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.[5]
References [edit]
- ^ Ring Sports Magazine. (Reno, Nevada) April 1994.
- ^ Callis, Tracy (January 1999). ""Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey…slick and quick". Cyber Boxing Zone Journal.
- ^ Mt. Calvary Cemetery
- ^ Tacoma Daily Times (Tacoma, Washington), March 13, 1909.
- ^ Callis, Tracy. Cyber Boxing Zone ""Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey (John Edward Kelly)". Cyber Boxing Zone Journal.
External links [edit]
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