Jack Dempsey

Thomas Moore (?, 1920 - November 2007) was an English Professional Wrestler better known by his Ring Name Jack Dempsey.

Born in Newtown, Wigan (and proud of it) he studied Boxing as a boy of 11 and beame involved in Rugby League as a member of the Bradford North club. While working as a teenager in the Coal Mines he began training as a wrestling after joining Riley's Gym in Scholes. The Gym was a notable producer of talent but it was clear that Moore was a cut above the rest, with a natural talent for Wrestling.

After a few Amatuer bouts he made his Professional debut in 1937 at the age of 17, losing the bout to Al Jenkins. Now in Wrestling professionally he addopted his Grandmothers name and began wrestling under pseudonym Jack Dempsey. In this guise he would gain a large following while wrestling for Billy Riley - the founder of the fames Snake Pit - and was soon a major star in the area.

By the 1950's he was chasing the British Welterweight title and challenging then Champion Mick McManus for the belt and would capture it in 1951 which he woud hold until 1952. A few years later and he was challenging for the title again, this time his opponent was Tony Lawrence but he came away victorious regardless and captured the title for the second time in 1953. He would hold the title until 1957 when Mick McManus would defeat him for it in London. He would defeat McManus for the title in a great encounter, the most anticipated Welterweight contest yet held, in London in 1958. Now Dempsey would hold the title for almost 8 years but would be forced to vacate it afer an illness forced his retirement.

In his retirement he continued to wrestle occaisonally but devoted much of his time to teaching in the dreaded Snake Pit. He became a local celebrity and was the subject of a 1995 television documentary. He ran a store for a while in Whelley, Wigan with his wife Theresa. He spent his last years in Westwood LodgeNursing Home in Poolstock and died at the age of 87 in November of 2005

Herladed as one of the true greats of British wrestling. He was a no nonesense wrestler, deeply routed in the Lancashire catch-as-catch-can style and one of it's finestest proponents. He had many memorable matches in his career, agianst Mick McManus, Vic Faulkner, Jackie Pallo and more. When British Wrestling was first televisied he was not only one of the first men to appear but was one of the top wrestlers in the country, Europe and possible the world.

Trained By

 * Billey Riley

Notable Feuds

 * Mick McManus

Championships and Accomplishments

 * (1)British Welterweight Title - (?, 1951)
 * (2)British Welterweight Title - defeating Tony Lawrence (?, 1953)
 * (3)British Welterweight Title - defeating Mick McManus (April 23, 1958)
 * British Empire/Commonwealth Welterweight Title - (?, 1954)
 * (1)European Welterweight Title - (?, 1954)
 * World Welterweight Title -(?, 1956)
 * (2)European Welterweigth Title - defeating Alan Colbeck (October 25, 1958)
 * (3)European Welterweight Title - defeating Alan Colbeck (?, 1959)
 * (4)European Welterweight Title - defeating Alan Colbeck (?, 1960)
 * (5)European Welterweight Title - defeating Alan Colbeck (?, 1964)