History of Boxing in the 1920's:
Many things happened in the 20's, from Louis Armstrong to Al Capone via Greta Garbo and F Scott Fitzgerald, America's Jazz Age was a time of change.
Since prohibition was introduced, illegal bars and sport along with the "new" network radio, became a passion of the people.
While in other sports Babe Ruth dazzled in baseball and Bobby Jones had impressive records in golf, it fell like if Jack Dempsey, "The Manassa Mauler", was the king of them all as he was crowned the heavyweight champion of the world.
Typical 1920's Boxing "Arena"
After the sport was brought under the control of commissions intended to reduce the undesirable criminal and gambling elements so often associated with it Boxing became an international sport and was treated as a social event for both men and women.
Even though in the decade of the 1910's the sport was practiced without gloves, it evolved, and so did the athletes.
Boxing Figures of the 1920's:
A working class hero, not averse to fighting for his supper in small-town saloons, Jack Dempsey became the "American Dream" when he pounded Jess Willard in 1919 to become champion. In the spirit of the age he married a movie star, was distracted by a few film roles, but remained unbeaten and the best through a series of defences until 1926.
He lost the title to Gene Tunney, but many of his fights were historic, such as his defenses against Georges Carpentier, Luis Firpo and Tom Gibbons.
Commercially, no other athlete approached Dempsey. At the height of his career, Ruth made about $70,000 a year. Dempsey made an impressive $300,000 for his 1921 title defense against Frenchman and light heavyweight champion Georges Carpentier. When the receipts of roughly 91,000 spectators were totaled after Dempsey's four-round knockout, they equaled $1,789,238, which was boxing's first million-dollar gate.
Dempsey became a household name, and he dated and married Hollywood actresses. He was, along with Babe Ruth, Red Grange, Bill Tilden and Bobby Jones, one of the so-called Big Five of sports in the 20's.
Champion Jack Dempsey (1923)
The Best Fight of the 1920's:
His 1927 rematch against Tunney became known in boxing history as The Long Count Fight because Dempsey did not know what a neutral corner was and he failed to back away from his opponent after he knocked Tunney out as the back then "new rule" indictated. Referee Dave Barry took several seconds to convince him to do so and by the time he started the count it had been several seconds. The referee reached nine before Tunney got up just to win the fight for points.
Dempsey vs. Tunney
Equipment of the 1920's:
The equipment used was very similar to today's equipment except that the gloves were much lighter and provided less protection against impact.
1920's gloves
Conclusion:
The roaring 20's was a time of change, and sports changed with the 20's. Boxing witnessed the birth of one of the best to ever step in the ring. The sport became a social event more than an illegal underground fight and gave new opportunities to people who wanted to accomplish the American dream and allowed the country to evolve into what it is now.