Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
Ranked sixth on The Ring magazine's list of all-time heavyweights and fourth among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers, Jack Dempsey was voted the greatest fighter of the past 50 years by the Associated Press in 1950. A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Dempsey reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. We have a plaque originally given to the The Manassa Mauler for his status as "Greatest Fighter of The Past Fifty Years" by Chicago wrestling promotor Fred Kohler and presented by Joseph Triner. At approx 16" x 24", the large wooden plaque with affixed and engraved gold-coloured plates features a mounted boxer over an eagle plinth with laurel wreath below. The text includes "Presented to Jack Dempsey from Fred Kohler Chicago Wrestling Promoter", with additional text that states the particulars including "Presented by Joseph Triner" and the date of "February 10, 1950". There is wear to the plaque especially along edges, with one of the boxer's hands broken off and missing, with the boxer himself loose over the base.
Fred Kohler was an American professional wrestling promoter and the owner of Fred Kohler Enterprises. Producing the popular DuMont Television Network program "Wrestling From Marigold" (1949-1955), Kohler promoted matches in Chicago, Illinois for almost 40 years. He was also president of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1961 to 1962. Joseph Triner was the president of the United States Football Association from 1936 to 1938, and the chairman of the Illinois State Athletic Commission during the 1950s.
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