U.S. #3183m
32¢ Jack Dempsey Wins Heavyweight Title
Celebrate the Century – 1910s
Issue Date: February 3, 1998
City: Washington, DC
Quantity: 12,533,000
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: 11.5
Color: Multicolored
Jack Dempsey (1895-1983) was one of the most popular heavyweight boxing champions of all time. A fearsome puncher, Dempsey knocked out 25 of his opponents in the very first round – the most in the history of boxing. His aggressive style earned him the nickname the “Manassa Mauler.” From 1914 to 1940, he had 84 bouts, and 51 of his 62 victories were by knockout.
Born in Manassa, Colorado, Dempsey began fighting professionally at the age of 14. Five years later he knocked out Jess Willard to win the heavyweight title. In 1926, he lost his title to Gene Tunney. Their second fight, held in Chicago, lives in boxing history as the “long count” fight.
Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round, but failed to go to his neutral corner. As a result, the referee delayed starting the count over Tunney. Due to this delay, Tunney was able to rise at the count of nine, but the actual count would have been 14! Tunney went on to win the 10-round fight by decision.
During World War II, Dempsey served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. Later, he became a successful restaurateur in New York City. He discussed his boxing career in his autobiography, Dempsey, published in 1977.