Was Wills better than McVea, Jeannette or Langford?

[he grant]

With all respect, has anyone else even heard of this film popping up or seen it ? If so , How does one get the chance to do so ? Again, Wills was laready old and Firpo was clearly not in the physical shape he was for Dempsey ( looking quite soft at the weigh in photo) but it would still be one hell of an interesting find ..again I ask, how does one get an opportunity to view this ?

[mattdonnellon]

Like everybody else I'd love to see that Wills-Firpo film.
Back to the question I posed I feel Langford the better fighter of the two based on overall career but also on his wins over Harry when I think it is reasonable to feel that both were near eneough peak to credit the fights. Sam was often out of shape in these days and only got it to-gether for the bigger fights and his 14 round KO contest with Wills seems to have been one mighty clash. I accept that even in those years 1914-16'ish Harry was winning as many if not more than Sam but Langford seemed to pull out the big one and from reports used his craft, power and especially his superior bottle to offset Harry's superior physical assets, youth, considerable boxing skills and dare I say it, his dirtier tactics.
McVey is the one that interests me, I feel he edged Jeannette in their series and he scored two early wins v's Wills who did come to dominate a fading McVey later(and sooner?) but Sam's career stands up two.
He was fighting superior opponents right from the start of his career, and not just superior to Harry's early opponents but perhaps any other heavyweight in history. He did OK with the other Sam, got the better of the then formidable Ed Martin and acquitted himself well against a peak Johnson. He rarely lost to any but the best and I think he stands as a match for Wills, only the strengh of Langford and Johnson stopped him been a champion.

[Lord Tywin]

No, Im not writing a book on Greb. That is Steve Compton, who I trade boxing films with.


Here is Wills landing that jab.


Here is Firpo reeling across the ring from the jab.


Here is Firpo down from a combo right uppercut, right hand over the top.

[lufcrazy]

Gold dust.

The top coloured contender beating the top white contender whilst the champ in recess is over in Hollywood.

[McGrain]

Lovely

[Lord Tywin]

[Nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by Lord Tywin

No, Im not writing a book on Greb. That is Steve Compton, who I trade boxing films with.


Here is Wills landing that jab.


Here is Firpo reeling across the ring from the jab.


Here is Firpo down from a combo right uppercut, right hand over the top.

Thank you sir! You are a great edition to this forum that i love so much

[he grant]

Fabulous photos ... again I ask, how does one se this film ? Any shot of posting it on Youtube ? When Mendoza turned me on to the Langford/Jeanette footage we immediately agreed to post it for all to see ...

Thoughts ?

[janitor]

Even iron will break eventualy, and my jaw isn't iron.

It wouldn't do to take too many of those!

Sam Langford

[PowerPuncher]

Originally Posted by Lord Tywin

No, Im not writing a book on Greb. That is Steve Compton, who I trade boxing films with.


Here is Wills landing that jab.


Here is Firpo reeling across the ring from the jab.


Here is Firpo down from a combo right uppercut, right hand over the top.

Beautiful thanks for the pix Any chance of a youtube upload?

[lufcrazy]

Seeing that on youtube would be heroic.

[Mendoza]

Originally Posted by Lord Tywin

Some would quibble with the knockdown because it was kind of on the break but for me the real indication of his power was the jab that buckles Firpos knees a few seconds before and sends Firpo reeling back a few steps. When you consider how big and strong Firpo was thats impressive.

The thing that caught my eye was how easily Wills dealt with Firpo in the clinches. Wills was a very big, very strong, athletic heavyweight. Really a pre-cursor to the modern heavyweights.

Papers say Wills was a good clincher and body puncher. Flooring Fripo once is nice, but Firpo never had good balance. Dempsey floored Firpo 7 times in round one, and hurt him, which judging by the decision is something Wills did not do. This make me think Wills power wasn't on Dempsey's level.

It seems like every once in a while a film most of us thought was lost resurfaces. I'd love to see this one!

[McGrain]

Originally Posted by Mendoza

Papers say Wills was a good clincher and body puncher. Flooring Fripo once is nice, but Firpo never had good balance. Dempsey floored Firpo 7 times in round one, and hurt him, which judging by the decision is something Wills did not do. This make me think Wills power wasn't on Dempsey's level.

Anyone who thinks that Wills had Dempsey on powers level to begin with isn't paying attention.

On this kind of remedial level, I hope you're taking into account that Firpo didn't nearly KTFO Dempsey, would have beaten him under modern rules and showed the type of defence and boxing skill that made it absolutely clear that Firpo was not on his level - something Dempsey wasn't able to do.

[Lord Tywin]

Wills fought a different fight than Dempsey.

[Mendoza]

Papers say Wills was a good clincher and body puncher. Flooring Fripo once is nice, but Firpo never had good balance. Dempsey floored Firpo 7 times in round one, and hurt him, which judging by the decision is something Wills did not do. This make me think Wills power wasn't on Dempsey's level.

Originally Posted by McGrain

Anyone who thinks that Wills had Dempsey on powers level to begin with isn't paying attention.

On this kind of remedial level, I hope you're taking into account that Firpo didn't nearly KTFO Dempsey, would have beaten him under modern rules and showed the type of defence and boxing skill that made it absolutely clear that Firpo was not on his level - something Dempsey wasn't able to do.

I think I understand which direction you are headed in, but can you elaborate a bit more on the " something Dempsey wasn't able to do " portion?