Jack Dempsey Quotes

Champion’s Mentality

A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.

By forgetting the past and by throwing myself into other interests, I forget to worry.

When I was a young fellow I was knocked down plenty. I wanted to stay down, but I couldn’t. I had to collect the two dollars for winning or go hungry. I had to get up. I was one of those hungry fighters. You could have hit me on the chin with a sledgehammer for five dollars. When you haven’t eaten for two days you’ll understand.

Jack Dempsey came from humble beginnings

Fighting

To his wife after his Tunney loss: “Honey, I just forgot to duck”

On the significance of media: I was a pretty good fighter. But it was the writers who made me great.

Dempsey was a media success

On the task of fighting bigger men: Tall men come down to my height when I hit ’em in the body.

On teamwork and support: A champion owes everybody something. He can never pay back for all the help he got, for making him an idol.

Tell him he can have my title, but I want it back in the morning.