William Harrison "
Jack"
Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), also known as "
Kid Blackie" and "
The Manassa Mauler", was an
American professional
boxer, who became a cultural icon of the 1920s. Dempsey held the
World Heavyweight Championship from 1919 to 1926, and his aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million-dollar gate. Listed at #10 on
The Ring's list of all-time heavyweights and #7 among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers, in 1950 the
Associated Press voted Dempsey as the greatest fighter of the past 50 years. Dempsey is a member of the
International Boxing Hall of Fame, and was inducted into
The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame in 1951.