Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey, in only seven steps.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept – well, sort of loosely – to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In this installment of the Boxing Junkie feature, we decided to link Mike Tyson — who is set for a comeback against Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 28 — and a fighter he has always admired, the legendary Jack Dempsey.

Tyson and Dempsey had a lot in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of fans worldwide and have evolved into legends.

Even their records were similar. Dempsey finished 54-6-8, Tyson 50-6. And, believe it or not, they both had 44 knockouts.

The question for the purposes of this feature: Could we link them by opponents even though Tyson retired 78 years after Dempsey did? Turns out we could. And, remarkably, it took only seven steps.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

For fun, we wanted to know how many steps it would take to connect Jones with Dempsey. We did it in nine. Have a look:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Evander Holyfield, who fought …

James Toney, who fought …

Roy Jones Jr.

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Read more:

Degrees of separation: Connecting John L. Sullivan to Deontay Wilder

Degrees of Separation: Linking Filipino greats Flash Elorde, Manny Pacquiao

Degrees of Separation: Linking Japanese greats Fighting Harada and Naoya Inoue

Degrees of Separation: Linking Tyson Fury to first U.K.-born heavyweight champ

Degrees of Separation: Connecting Canelo Alvarez with Mexican legends

Degrees of Separation: Linking the Mayweathers

Degrees of Separation: Linking Manny Pacquiao to Pancho Villa

Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson to one of his idols, Jack Dempsey, in only seven steps.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept – well, sort of loosely – to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In this installment of the Boxing Junkie feature, we decided to link Mike Tyson — who is set for a comeback against Roy Jones Jr. on Nov. 28 — and a fighter he has always admired, the legendary Jack Dempsey.

Tyson and Dempsey had a lot in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of fans worldwide and have evolved into legends.

Even their records were similar. Dempsey finished 54-6-8, Tyson 50-6. And, believe it or not, they both had 44 knockouts.

The question for the purposes of this feature: Could we link them by opponents even though Tyson retired 78 years after Dempsey did? Turns out we could. And, remarkably, it took only seven steps.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

For fun, we wanted to know how many steps it would take to connect Jones with Dempsey. We did it in nine. Have a look:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Evander Holyfield, who fought …

James Toney, who fought …

Roy Jones Jr.

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Read more:

Degrees of separation: Connecting John L. Sullivan to Deontay Wilder

Degrees of Separation: Linking Filipino greats Flash Elorde, Manny Pacquiao

Degrees of Separation: Linking Japanese greats Fighting Harada and Naoya Inoue

Degrees of Separation: Linking Tyson Fury to first U.K.-born heavyweight champ

Degrees of Separation: Connecting Canelo Alvarez with Mexican legends

Degrees of Separation: Linking the Mayweathers

Degrees of Separation: Linking Manny Pacquiao to Pancho Villa

Degrees of Separation: Linking Mike Tyson to Jack Dempsey

Boxing Junkie was able to link Mike Tyson and Jack Dempsey is seven steps in its Degrees of Separation feature.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept – well, sort of loosely – to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In this installment of the Boxing Junkie feature, we decided to link Mike Tyson — whose comeback fight against Roy Jones Jr. is set for Sept. 12. — to a heavyweight legend he has long admired, Jack Dempsey.

Tyson and Dempsey had a great deal in common in the ring. They were both ferocious, powerful knockout machines who captured the imagination of the fans. They had a similar number of fights and, believe it or not, the exact same number of stoppages.

How powerful were they? Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) had 22 first-round knockouts, Dempsey (54-6-8, 44 KOs) 21.

So how many steps did it take to link the heavyweight Hall of Famers? Only seven even though Dempsey last fought in 1927, 93 years ago.

Check it out:

Jack Dempsey fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rock Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Mike Tyson

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Read more:

[lawrence-related id=12195,12112,12084,10791,10285,9247,8900,8391,8175,7844,7296,7100,6851,6625]

Rocky Marciano retired at 49-0 on this date 64 years ago

Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on this date in 1956. One of the most remarkable aspects of his career is that he never returned.

Rocky Marciano announced his retirement on this date 64 years ago. One of the most remarkable aspects of his remarkable career is that he never returned.

Marciano was heavyweight champion and only 32 when he walked away from the sport at the height of his earning power. Why did he do it? He said he wanted to spend more time with his family but then traveled extensively. Maybe it was his ire over the percentage of his purses claimed by manager Al Weill. Or maybe he simply wanted to preserve what he had built.

“I thought it was a mistake when Joe Louis tried a comeback,” Marciano said. “No man can say what he will do in the future. But, barring poverty, the ring has seen the last of me,” Marciano said, according to The New York Times.

“I am comfortably fixed, and I am not afraid of the future. Barring a complete and dire emergency, you will never see Rocky Marciano make a comeback.”

So what legacy did Marciano preserve? Depends who you talk to.

He’ll forever been known for his final record, 49-0 (43 KOs). No other heavyweight – and few fighters in any division – have retired with a perfect ledger.

He also is remembered for his unusual punching power for a man his size, 5-foot-10½ and around 185 to 190 pounds. His percentage of victories that came by knockout is almost exactly the same as that of legendary puncher Mike Tyson.

And those who followed him closely marveled at his work ethic and resulting stamina and durability. Rocky was a rock.

At the same time, he has critics. They cite his relatively crude skill set even though he was able to overcome every challenge. They point out close calls – a controversial decision over Roland LaStarza comes to mind – even though all great fighters have benefited from questionable decisions.

And, of course, they say his opposition was so-so at best even though foes Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore (his final opponent) were still formidable when he fought them and all are Hall of Famers.

Was Marciano the greatest heavyweight of all time? No. That distinction usually goes to Muhammad Ali or Joe Louis. Was he a special heavyweight who deserves our respect? Absolutely.

“His streak doesn’t make him a greater fighter,” TV analyst Larry Merchant told ESPN, “but a larger figure.”

A figure that still looms over the heavyweight division.

10 fights all true boxing fans absolutely must see

Boxing Junkie gives you 10 fights that all true boxing fans absolutely must see.

Boxing fans have been treated to a long list of ring battles they’ll never forget.

To whittle these classics down to the 10 best was essentially an impossible task. So what we decided to do was choose 10 that we know will satisfy the craving you have for some insane in-the-ring action.

Sit back and enjoy.

***

Archie Moore vs. Yvon Durelle I
Date / site
: Dec. 12, 1958 / Montreal
Result
: Moore KO 11

Moore vs. Durelle might be the best example of resilience in the history of the sport. The 40-something “Old Mongoose,” defending his light heavyweight title, went down hard three times in the opening round and once more in Round 5 at the hands of his rugged Canadian challenger. It wasn’t a matter of “if” Moore would lose his title but “when.” Well, when never came. Moore somehow tapped into a deep reservoir of energy, turned the tide and put a fading Durelle down four times before referee Jack Sharkey finally counted him out 49 seconds into Round 11. Moore, an all-time great, had many special performances. None of the others could top this.

Our favorites: Classic fights to fill the boxing void

In “Our Favorites,” each of the Boxing Junkie staffers gives you his three favorite fights to fill the void left by canceled live fights.

Boxing Junkies must be going through withdrawals right about now.

The fans are accustomed to several servings of their favorite sport each week. These days, with the spread of the coronavirus worldwide, there is a gaping void because live cards are being postponed or canceled every day.

What is a boxing fan to do?

Well, with your suffering in mind, we decided to put together “Our Favorites” to help you get your fix of the sweet science. Boxing Junkie staffers Michael Rosenthal, Norm Frauenheim and Sean Nam will give you their three favorite boxing matches, three favorite boxing movies and three favorite boxing books.

Today: boxing matches.

MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III
Date / site
: Oct. 1, 1975 / Quezon City, Philippines
Result
: Ali TKO 14

 

Ali said after his third fight with his arch rival that “It was like death. Closest thing to dyin’ that I know of.” That gives you an idea of the brutality of the Thrilla in Manila. Ali and Frazier gave and took hard punches at a feverish rate in spite of the stifling heat in the arena, which Frazer guessed reached 120 degrees. They both grew weary but Frazier declined more rapidly than Ali, who handed out a vicious beating in Round 14. The great Eddie Futch, Frazier’s trainer, stopped it there to protect his beaten fighter. Thus ended arguably the greatest heavyweight fight ever.

Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns
Date / site
: April 15, 1985 / Las Vegas
Result
: Hagler TKO 3

Hagler vs. Hearns had to the most-action packed fight ever pound-for-pound … er, round-for-round. The fighters, two of the biggest punchers of all time, gave fans a classic opening stanza in which hard, accurate punches flew at a breathtaking rate. Hagler continued to attack with one thing in mind in Round 2 and Hearns – trying to box at times but unable to keep Hagler off him – returned fire. Then, in Round 3, Hagler landed a right to the side of Hearns’ head and then a straight right that took him out. Never was more mayhem packed into two-plus rounds.

Archie Moore vs. Yvon Durelle I
Date / site
: Dec. 12, 1958 / Montreal
Result
: Moore KO 11

Moore vs. Durelle might be the best example of resilience in the history of the sport. The 40-something “Old Mongoose,” defending his light heavyweight title, went down hard three times in the opening round a once more in Round 5 at the hands of his rugged Canadian challenger. It wasn’t a matter of “if” Moore would lose his title but “when.” Well, when never came. Moore somehow tapped into a deep reservoir of energy, turned the tide and put a fading Durelle down four times before referee Jack Sharkey finally counted him out 49 seconds into Round 11. Moore, an all-time great, had many special performances. None of the others could top this.

***

NORM FRAUENHEIM

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns I
Date / site: Sept. 16, 1981 / Las Vegas
Result: Leonard TKO 14

From rock-and-roll to vintage cars, classic is an overused word. It’s another sales pitch. But there’s only one Leonard-Hearns I. It’s a standard, a reference point for what classic really means. It was a fight in which the welterweights switched styles. The boxer, Leonard, became the stalker. The puncher, Hearns, became the boxer. Leonard won. So did everybody who watched.

Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo I
Date / site: May 7, 2005 / Las Vegas
Result: Corrales TKO 10

Some fights are dramatic. Some violent. Castillo-Corrales was more. The lightweight bout was spontaneous combustion. The first nine rounds were Fight-of-the-Year worthy. Then, boom, the 10th. Castillo knocks down Corrales. Castillo drops him again. Then Corrales lands a right and follows with a blinding succession of blows. It’s over. Corrales never won again. He died two years later, to the day, in a motorcycle accident.

Michael Carbajal vs. Humberto Gonzalez I
Date / site:  March 13, 1993 / Las Vegas
Result: Carbajal KO 7

They were Lords of the Flies. Still are. Two little guys came up big in a bout that led to rematches and a million dollars for each, a money milestone still unequaled for 108-pounders. Carbajal got knocked down twice, in the second round and fifth. He looked finished. He wasn’t, knocking out Gonzalez in the seventh with a right-left combo with deadly efficiency.

 ***

 SEAN NAM

Mike McCallum vs. James Toney I
Date / site
: Dec. 13, 1991 / Atlantic City, New Jersey
Result
: SD D 12

Skill these days seems to be a byword for being cute in the ring, but as veteran McCallum and rising star Toney showed in their middleweight title bout in 1991, skill at that time meant mean business. Altogether, both fighters threw more than 1,700 punches in their highly technical, but entertaining donnybrook. There was some controversy on the scorecards – the fight was ruled a draw – but make no mistake: There were no losers.

Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov
Date / site: March 16, 2013 / Carson, California
Result
: Bradley UD 12

Some fights simultaneously enthrall you and make you wince. This was one of them. For a fighter who had just outboxed Manny Pacquiao (albeit controversially) and would go on to dominate Juan Manuel Marquez in his next bout, Bradley decided to go toe-to-toe against Provodnikov, a relentless pressure fighter from Siberia. Bradley, who was dangerously wobbled several times, managed to get the slight nod on the scorecards. But the damage both fighters incurred? Only they know.

Roberto Duran vs. Iran Barkley
Date / site: Feb. 24, 1989 / Atlantic City, New Jersey
Result
: Duran SD 12

It was Roberto Duran’s last hurrah before his inevitable decline. And what a show he put on that blustery night against a deadly threat in Iran Barkley. It didn’t matter that Duran had been somewhat irrelevant the previous five years. Or that he was a career lightweight now trying to make his mark at middleweight. When the bell rang, Duran was in vintage form, showing all the guile and chutzpah that formed his reputation over the previous decade. It was a close affair, however. A late knockdown courtesy of three well-timed right hands helped Duran seal the fight in his favor.

 

Degrees of Separation: Linking Tyson Fury to first U.K.-born heavyweight champ

In this installment of Degrees of Separation, we link Tyson Fury to the first U.K.-born heavyweight champion, Bob Fitzsimmons in 11 steps.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept – well, sort of loosely – to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

In the first installment of the new Boxing Junkie feature, we connected heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder to the first heavyweight champ of the modern era, John L. Sullivan.

Now, in third installment, it’s the turn of lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who faces Wilder in a rematch on Feb. 22. We link “The Gypsy King” to the first U.K.-born heavyweight champion, Bob Fitzsimmons, who won the heavyweight title in 1897 and last fought in 1914.

And it took us only 12 steps, which isn’t bad given the century-plus between the fighters’ careers.

Check it out:

Bob Fitzsimmons fought …

Jack Johnson, who fought …

Jess Willard, who fought …

Jack Dempsey, who fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Ray Mercer, who fought …

Wladimir Klitschko, who fought …

Tyson Fury

 

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!

Degrees of separation: Connecting John L. Sullivan to Deontay Wilder

Degrees of Separation: Connecting fighters from different eras

Boxing Junkie kicks off a new feature — “Degrees of Separation,” in which we connect fighters from different eras.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is separated by no more than six social connections.

In other words, you know someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows Queen Elizabeth. Or so the concept goes.

We’re borrowing the six degrees concept — well, sort of loosely — to connect fighters from the past to their more contemporary counterparts in our new occasional feature, “Degrees of Separation.”

Example: Let’s connect Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Super easy; we did it in two steps. Senior fought Grover Wiley, who fought Junior.

To kick off the new Boxing Junkie feature, we were more ambitious than that. We connected the first modern heavyweight champion – John L. Sullivan – with the current No. 1 big man in the sport – Deontay Wilder. And we did it in 15 steps.

Check it out:

John L. Sullivan fought …

James J. Corbett, who fought …

James J. Jeffries, who fought …

Jack Johnson, who fought …

Jess Willard, who fought …

Jack Dempsey, who fought …

Jack Sharkey, who fought …

Joe Louis, who fought …

Rocky Marciano, who fought …

Archie Moore, who fought …

Muhammad Ali, who fought …

Larry Holmes, who fought …

Evander Holyfield, who fought …

Nikolai Valuev, who fought …

Sergei Liakhovich, who fought …

Deontay Wilder

Whew! That took a while. But, in our defense, we bridged more than a century. Sullivan last fought in 1892 and Wilder, of course, is still active.

Could you do it in fewer steps? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. Or you can contact me on Twitter. And please follow us!