Born in Manassa, Colorado, by age 16 Dempsey had begun hopping on trains and travelling west to fight as a professional. He would go into saloons and challenge for fights saying "I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any man in the house". His exact fight record is not known because sometimes he boxed under the pseudonym, Kid Blackie. This practice continued until 1916. In between, he first appeared as Jack Dempsey in 1914, drawing with Young Herman in six rounds. After that fight, he won six bouts in a row by knockout ...

See also:

Jack Dempsey, Jack Dempsey - Biography, Jack Dempsey - Record

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