September 1927 – As our late friend Frank Reading would say, “This fight was one for the ages!” The famous “The long count” bout between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey was held at Soldiers Field in Chicago in front of a crowd of almost 105,000 onlookers. It was a famous boxing rematch, as Tunney defeated Dempsey in a 10-round unanimous decision to retain the world heavyweight title.
It earned the moniker of “Long Count” because when Tunney was knocked down in the seventh round the count was delayed due to Dempsey’s failure to go to and remain in a neutral corner.
Whether this “long count” actually affected the outcome remains an unanswered question as he may have hurt his own cause. The fight had a record gate total at the time of $2,858,660.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
(4 All-Time Weightlifting Greats) Paul Anderson, Tommy Kono, Ken Patera, and Naim Süleymanoğlu
Here’s a quick look at some of the accomplishments of four great weightlifters from
College Sports Betting Scandals in History
Today, over 30 states have legalized online sports betting, all with college sports teams,
Paddy Driscoll’s Almost Perfect Season
Back at the beginning of the National Football League in 1920, one of the
Historical Sporting Events That Helped Shape the Sports Betting Industry
The sports betting industry is massive. A multi-billion-dollar industry. So big, in fact, that
Top Five Matches in Table Tennis History
“Ping Pong” has a rich and fascinating history that is over a century old.
John Davis: An American Weightlifting Legend
When I first started competing in Olympic Weightlifting in 1981, I wanted to learn
Football Evolution: From English Fields to American Stadiums
Football, a sport cherished by millions, boasts a history that crosses continents and cultures.
Sports Betting: A Journey Through Time and Technology
How did placing a bet on your favorite sports team become so popular? Sports