On this day in 1927 Jack Dempsey lost one of the most famous heavyweight boxing matches of all time- the famous “Long Count” match to champion Gene Tunney. The fight was held at Soldier Field in Chicago. It was held 364 days after Gene Tunney had beaten Dempsey for the title in a ten round unanimous decision in Philadelphia.

The rematch was the first fight ever to have a $1 million and $2 million dollar gate. In the first six rounds Gene Tunney was dominating the fight but in round 7 Dempsey staggered Tunney with two lefts and two rights, four punches later Tunney was on the canvas. The referee Dave Barry ordered Dempsey to a neutral corner. Dempsey just stood there. By the time Dempsey moved Tunney had been down for 3 t0 8 seconds. Barry did not start his count until Dempsey was in a neutral corner.  Many believe if Dempsey had moved to the neutral corner right away he would have won the Heavyweight Championship back. Video of the fight shows that Tunney was down for a total of 13 seconds. In the 8th round Tunney floored Dempsey and referee Barry started counting before Tunney was in a neutral corner. Tunney would retain the title. It would be the great Jack Dempsey’s final fight. Tunney would only have one more fight before retiring.

Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney would become good friends. I think Gene Tunney is one of the underrated fighters in Heavyweight history.