Everything changed after Dempsey destroyed Jess Willard on July 4, 1919. The heavyweight championship turned Dempsey into one of America’s biggest sports celebrities. His fights generated enormous gates. Movies and endorsements brought him even more money. He also became part of Hollywood’s social world.
The fighter who once struggled financially could now afford mansions and a lifestyle that would have been unimaginable during his early years. Boxing gradually occupied less of his time.
After defeating Georges Carpentier in July 1921, Dempsey went nearly two years without defending his championship. He retur
