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'''Jack Dempsey''' (given name William Harrison Dempsey, also known as The Manassa Mauler) (1895 – 1983) was a professional [[prizefighter]] and [[heavyweight champion]] of the world from July 4, 1919 through September 23, 1927.  Dempsey was an extremely popular and successful champion, a public figure so iconic that decades later in the 1980s President [[Ronald Reagan]] could say “…nobody ever insulted Jack Dempsey” with the expectation that his hearers would understand his meaning.

Jack Dempsey (given name William Harrison Dempsey, also known as The Manassa Mauler) (born June 24, 1895 – died May 31, 1983) was a professional [[prizefighter]] and [[heavyweight champion]] of the world from July 4, 1919 through September 23, 1927.  Dempsey was an extremely popular and successful champion, a public figure so iconic that decades later in the 1980s President [[Ronald Reagan]] could say “…nobody ever insulted Jack Dempsey” with the expectation that his hearers would understand his meaning.

Dempsey was born in [[Colorado]] to a [[Mormon]] couple, and was raised in that faith, but would later describe himself as a “Jack-Mormon”, a term meaning a Mormon who had left the faith. From about the age of 10, he developed an ambition to be heavyweight champion of the world. He adopted an intense training regimen, which included jump roping, racing against farm and wagon horses, punching bag work, and “pickling”, which was a process which involved soaking the hands in horse urine and the face in brine and which was believed to toughen the skin and to help prevent cuts. At 16, Dempsey left home, and began earning a living by entering mining camp bars and saloons and offering to “lick anyone for a buck” (one dollar). In 1916, Dempsey came to [[New York City]], where he began his formal career as a prizefighter. He rose rapidly in the rankings, and took the heavyweight championship from [[Jess Willard]], a fighter who was 50 pounds heavier. Dempsey defended his title several times, notably against K.O. Bill Brennan, Georges Carpentier, and Luis Firpo. He finally lost his title to former [[United States marine]] [[Gene Tunney]].

Dempsey was born in Colorado to a [[Mormon]] couple, and was raised in that faith, but would later describe himself as a “Jack-Mormon”, a term meaning a Mormon who had left the faith. From about the age of 10, he developed an ambition to be heavyweight champion of the world. He adopted an intense training regimen, which included jump roping, racing against farm and wagon horses, punching bag work, and “pickling”, which was a process which involved soaking the hands in horse urine and the face in brine and which was believed to toughen the skin and to help prevent cuts. At 16, Dempsey left home, and began earning a living by entering mining camp bars and saloons and offering to “lick anyone for a buck” (one dollar). In 1916, Dempsey came to New York City, where he began his formal career as a prizefighter. He rose rapidly in the rankings, and took the heavyweight championship from [[Jess Willard]], a fighter who was 50 pounds heavier. Dempsey defended his title several times, notably against K.O. Bill Brennan, Georges Carpentier, and Luis Firpo. He finally lost his title to former [[United States marine]] [[Gene Tunney]].

Among other things, Dempsey's reign as heavyweight champion is notable for being the first time an athlete earned more than one million dollars in a year.

Among other things, Dempsey's reign as heavyweight champion is notable for being the first time an athlete earned more than one million dollars in a year.