Displayed is a personalized studio photo of "The Manassa Mauler," Jack Dempsey, the World Heavyweight Champion from 1919-26. Born in Manassa, Colorado, in 1895, Dempsey left home at an early age. He often traveled around the West by sneaking onto freight trains, and he sometimes slept in hobo camps. To earn money, he would walk into bars and proclaim, "I can't sing, and I can't dance, but I can lick any SOB in the house." That challenge usually brought on an opponent, and Dempsey almost always won the fight, plus some bets. Dempsey turned professional and eventually won the World Heavyweight Championship when he defeated, by RTD, Jess Willard on July 4, 1919, at Bay View Park Arena, in Toledo, Ohio. Years later, Dempsey lost his World Heavyweight title to Gene Tunney on Sept. 23, 1926, at Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, Pa. Dempsey lost against Tunney in a rematch for the World Heavyweight crown on Sept. 22, 1927, at Soldier Field in Chicago. That fight became known as "The Long Count Fight" when Dempsey did not immediately go to a neutral corner after flooring Tunney and the knocked down champion had 14 seconds get up, as Tunney got off the canvas and later won by a unanimous decision. After Dempsey's retirement from the ring, he owned several successful restaurants near Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The offered studio photo measures 7.4x9.5". In black ink from a fountain pen, Dempsey neatly penned, in bold script, "To Dr. Martini good luck pal." The photo presents a dignified image of Dempsey, appearing almost as a handsome movie star - he did appear in some films - hair slicked back and dressed in coat and tie. The photo exhibits some darkening, with corner wear, a few spots, and some small areas of surface paper loss. The offering comes with a PSA/DNA LOA (Cert. Number: AN03395) for the Dempsey signature.

Estimated domestic USA shipping cost only. Does not include handling or insurance: $25.81 Please feel free to contact us for a more accurate shipping cost.