Dempsey and Tunney in the Roaring Twenties

by Lew Freedman

Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney were among the most revered and popular heavyweight champions in the history of boxing. Rising to prominence during the 1920s, they became known as the most significant fighters of a rip-roaring, wide-open decade in American life. Twice they met in the ring in hugely anticipated and closely watched encounters. One bout included the so-called "Long Count," perhaps the most memorable round in boxing history. Both men's fame endured in retirement and even today, nearly a century after their contests, their rivalry is among the best-remembered and most talked-about in the history of the sport.

This history of one of boxing's most compelling rivalries is illustrated with photographs from the era, capturing the spirit of America's most exhilarating decade.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025