John Edward Kelly (December 15, 1862 – November 1, 1895) was an Irish-born American boxer, better known as Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, who was the first holder of the World Middleweight Championship (1884–1891).

He won the middleweight title on July 30, 1884, by defeating George Fulljames in Great Kills, Staten Island, New York.

[3] This ended when Bob Fitzsimmons pummeled him around the ring and begged him to concede before he was hurt any more.

Dempsey, the reigning champion, would not give up; the fight continued and Fitzsimmons knocked him out in round 13.

Though Dempsey beat his first battle with tuberculosis, he died at age 32 at the Portland, Oregon, home of his wife's parents on November 1, 1895, due to a recurrence of the disease.