Judge — September 24, 1927 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Magazine Cartoon Analysis This 1927 satire compares two famous boxers—"Tunney" (Gene Tunney) and "Dempsey" (Jack Dempsey)—through their financial "shape up." The table contrasts their wealth and contracts, showing Tunney with approximately $1.7 million versus Dempsey's $4.8 million in total resources. The cartoon below depicts a boxing match labeled "Round Five," with the caption "'The fighters are dancing in the middle of the ring.'" The sketch satirizes the spectacle of professional boxing—suggesting the fighters are performing theatrically for the paying crowd rather than genuinely fighting. This likely references contemporary concerns about boxing's commercialization and whether high-profile matches were legitimate sporting contests or predetermined entertainment, especially given the enormous financial stakes listed above.