| Jack Dempsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Edward Kelly December 15, 1862 Curran, County Kildare |
| Died | November 2, 1895 (aged 32) New York City, New York |
| Other names | Nonpareil |
| Nationality | Ireland |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Williamsburg, New York |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 65 |
| Wins | 49 |
| By knockout | 23 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| Draws | 11 |
John Edward Kelly (December 15, 1862 – November 1, 1895) was an Irish-born champion boxer. At 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) height, he was better known as Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey, called "Nonpareil" because no one could defeat him. In 65 contests, he lost only 3 times.[1] This ended when Bob Fitzsimmons pummelled him around the ring and begged him to concede before he was hurt any more. Dempsey, the reigning champion, would not give up; the fight continued and Fitzsimmons knocked him out.
Dempsey was born on December 15, 1862 in Curran, County Kildare, Ireland.[2] He died of tuberculosis at age 33, on November 1, 1895, at the Portland, Oregon, United States home of his wife's parents.[3] He was buried in an unmarked grave at Mount Calvary Cemetery. M. James Brady, Dempsey's father-in-law, refused to permit former World Champion John L. Sullivan and John S. Barnes to raise funds to erect a monument over Dempsey's grave. The family believed that the four-foot marble shaft was a sufficient memorial. The matter was thus dropped.[4]
Dempsey was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954, and into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.[5]