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Monday, September 22, 2014

THIS DATE IN HISTORY: Gene Tunney X Jack Dempsey II (Sep 22, 1927)

87 years ago today, "The Long Count" was the boxing rematch between world Heavyweight champion Gene Tunney and the former champion Jack Dempsey which was held on Sep 22, 1927.

Almost a year before, on Sep 23, 1926, Gene Tunney had beaten Jack Dempsey by a 10 round unanimous decision to take the Heavyweight Championship. Enjoy the rematch!

DID YOU KNOW THAT(excerpted from Wiki):

  • Al Capone was a big fan of Jack Dempsey's and had reportedly bet $50,000 on Dempsey to win in the rematch vs Tunney
  • the rematch would draw a gate of $2,658,660 (approximately $22 million in today's dollars). It was simultaneously the first $1 million gate and the first $2 million gate in entertainment history.
  • Dempsey actually had attempted to enlist in the Army, but had been turned down despite widespread rumors of Dempsey's refusal to participate in the military during WW I.
  • the fight took place under new rules regarding knockdowns: the fallen fighter would have 10 seconds to rise to his feet under his own power, after his opponent moved to a neutral corner (i.e., one with no trainers). The new rule, which was not yet universal, was asked to be put into use during the fight by the Dempsey camp, who had requested it during negotiations.[1] Dempsey, in the final days of training prior to the rematch, apparently ignored the setting of these new rules.
  • the fight was staged inside a 20-foot ring,[2] which favored the boxer with superior footwork, in this case Tunney. Dempsey liked to crowd his opponents, and normally fought in a 16-foot ring that offered less space to maneuver.



It is one of boxing's most talked about incidents. In 1926, boxing master Gene Tunney outpointed slugger Jack Dempsey in Philadelphia to win the world heavyweight crown. Their rematch a year later in Chicago produced the famous 'long count.' Watch as Dempsey floors Tunney but forgets to go to a neutral corner as required by the new rule. Tunney takes a nine count but stays on the canvas for 14 seconds because of Dempsey's gaffe.

Rare 16mm Highlight Film





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