HAMILTON, Ontario, Canada (April 7, 2025) – When Canadian cruiserweight Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) enters the ring on May 3rd to challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) Cruiserweight World Champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KOs), Rozicki will be channeling the spirit of legendary Jack “The Manassa Mauler” Dempsey (53-6-8, 43 KOs).
Jack vs. Rozicki will be part of the loaded Riyadh Season’s card, headlined by the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) versus William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) for the Unified Super Middleweight World Championship, will be streamed live on DAZN PPV from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Like Dempsey, Rozicki has power in both hands, and he also hits like a mule. “The Bruiser” has a 95% knockout rate compared to Dempsey’s 81.13%, albeit the Hall of Famer fought a Who’s Who list of elite opponents between 1914 and 1927.
The 30-year-old Rozicki became obsessed with Dempsey as a teenager, when the heavily tattooed Rozicki first started boxing. As his interest in boxing picked up, Rozicki started watching old fights on YouTube. He watched but wasn’t necessarily interested in Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, but it was life changing for him when he clicked on Dempsey fighting the 6’ 6 ½”. 245-pound Jess Willard in 1919. Willard was knocked down seven times in the opening round, allegedly suffering a broken jaw, broken ribs, several broken teeth, and deep fractures of his facial bones. Dempsey stopped Willard in the third round to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
“The first time I watched the Dempsey-Willard fight I noticed that the smaller guy (6’ 1”, 187-pound Dempsey),” Rozicki expounded. “The moment I saw him throw that left hook and his attack, almost like a legal assault, I was so obsessed that I must have watched it at least 100 times. The next day I went to the gym, and I told my trainer I wanted to fight like Jack Dempsey. I emulate his style. He didn’t get into the ring to make friends; he was a killer. I still believe in his energy and spirit; it’s around me.
“There are a lot more similarities: we both have four letters in our first name, same middle initial (W), the way we were raised, his father was like mine. I got a little crazy. I attended an amateur show one day in New Brunswick and an old guy who trained some of the fighters said he wanted to talk to me and had something for me. He gave me Jack Dempsey’s orange book and said to keep it. There are many, many books written about Jack Dempsey, but I haven’t found this orange book (see picture below), and I take it into the ring with me every fight.”
Rozicki has envisioned winning the World Cruiserweight title and he has a plan after his hand is raised victoriously. It all started with a dream…..
Ryan stated that he usually does not dream, but one night he had one where he was in New York City standing in front of the well-known Jack Dempsey bar. He opened the door, but found no one inside except for Jack Dempsey himself, appearing as an older version. Ryan attempted to show him their comparisons on his phone and how he fought like Dempsey, but Ryan did not have service. Dempsey advised him to put the phone away and implied that he should focus on being the best version of himself rather than trying to be a second Dempsey.
Ryan mentioned that his dream often freaks people out, including his promoter, Dan Otter. He once told Otter that he is his Doc Kearns, Dempsey’s promoter, and even resembles him.
“At first, I dismissed it as mere imagination,” Otter explained, “Rozicki claiming to be channeling the great Jack Dempsey. Rozicki has said he’s felt the spirit of Dempsey with him throughout his boxing career, even comparing his fight on December 2, 2023 (WTKO1 vs. Olanrewaju Durodola) to one of Dempsey’s in 1918. Ryan said, ‘You know, the power of belief can do incredible things. I believe I’m literally harnessing the energy of Jack Dempsey.’”
“Jack Dempsey is always attached with my name and that it will remain that way throughout his career,” Rozicki concluded. “A few years ago, I made a deal with myself.”
When Rozicki wins the world title, which he firmly believes will happen this May 3rd, he will return home and then visit Jack Dempsey’s gravesite in Southampton Cemetery in Tuckahoe, New York, where Ryan will leave his title belt at his idol’s side.
Rozicki’s fanbase believes in Jack Dempsey comparisons
INFORMATION:
Website: www.threelionspromotions.com
Facebook: /ThreeLionsPromotions /RyanRozickiBoxing
Instagram: @3LionsPromotions @Ryan_Rozicki
X: @RRozicki
LinkedIN: @DanielOtter
