The Manassa Mauler

The Manassa Mauler
Gary Griffis
Mrs. Baker
Literary Analysis
25 February 2019
Griffis 1
Gary Griffis
Mrs. Baker
Literary Analysis
25 February 2019
The Manassa Mauler
The 1920s were times of prosperity and expansion in America. Boxing was one of the
biggest attractions in the 1920s, displaying big stars and roping in money. One of these stars was
heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey who played his role by supporting economic growth,
being a positive influence on viewers, and becoming recognized world wide.
Jack Dempsey was born on June 24, 1895, in Manassa, Colorado. Growing up, Dempsey
had 5 sisters and 5 brothers. One brother in particular, Bernie, taught Dempsey how to box.
Bernie fought in prizefights in order to bring extra income to the family. Bernie would tell Jack
to chew pine tar gum to strengthen his jaw and soak his face in brine to toughen his skin. When
Dempsey was just 17 years old he became so good at boxing that he decided he could bring in
more money doing it full time rather than working. In 1914, he filled in for his brother Bernie,
this was the first time Dempsey ever fought under the name Jack. By 1917, Jack earned enough
fame to book fights on the east coast bringing in even more money for his family. Finally in
1919, Dempsey earned his first big fight against heavyweight champion Jess Willard. Dempsey
was the underdog going into the fight, because he was nearly 60 lbs smaller than Willard. Even
then, Dempsey knocked out Willard in round 3 starting his rule as the heavyweight champion.
Griffis 2
Dempsey’s rise to stardom and exciting fighting style earned him some of the highest
paying and highest attendance bouts ever seen before. Needless to say, Dempsey was the cause
of a lot of economic activity. In fact, “Dempsey drew boxing’s first million-dollar gate in
fighting Frenchman Georges Carpentier” (D’ambrosio). Dempsey raked in 120,000 boxing fans
when he defended his heavyweight title against Gene Tunney, unfortunately Dempsey lost this
fight.
Dempsey wasn’t just good for the economy, he was also a positive influence on children
and adults. Dempsey might have been the, “American heavyweight boxing champion, regarded
by many as the apotheosis of the professional fighter,” however he was a very easy going
gentleman outside of the ring (“Boxer”). Because of his fame, Dempsey had a very powerful
influence over the public, especially young men. He became what many would consider a role
model for these viewers. Dempsey also used his fame as a way to support the war effort, “In
World War II he served as a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard” (“Boxer”). Thus
encouraging younger and older men to join the war.
Finally, Dempsey’s remarkable back story and boxing career earned him unpresidented
fame around the world. According to the article Dempsey Defeats Willard, “Dempsey became
one of the great stars of the 1920s, admired around the world for his prowess in the ring and his
rise to stardom from hardscrabble beginnings.” Dempsey was born to a poor family, but worked
his way up the ropes of boxing through small mining town bouts. Before Dempsey boxed, he had
to work full time as a miner to support his family. In fact Dempsey, “dropped out of school after
eighth grade” to satisfy their needs (“Willard”).

Griffis 3
In a time of rapid American expansion and growth, many stars were born. One in
particular, William Harrison “Jack” Dempsey played an irreplaceable role in the 1920s. Through
his consistent economic support through bouts, positive influence on viewers, and becoming
world famous, Jack Dempsey truly stuck out from the many other boxers of his era. Dempsey’s
rule maybe over, but his legacy lives forever.

Griffis 4
Works Cited
D’ambrosio, Brian. “The Life of the ‘Manassa Mauler.’” History Magazine, vol. 19, no. 1,
Oct/Nov. 2017, pp.12. History Reference Center,
http://web.a.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=a2ee8b4f-7986-4582-99bb-925c
0b22c870%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#AN=125432436
&db=khh.
“Dempsey Defeats Willard.” History, A&E Television Networks, 16 Nov. 2009,
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dempsey-defeats-willard.
“Jack Dempsey American Boxer.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Jul. 1998,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-Dempsey.
“Jack Dempsey Biography.” Biography, A&E Television Networks, 2 Apr. 2014,
https://www.biography.com/people/jack-dempsey-9271466.

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