Which HW 'ATG' from yesteryear would have been easiest to beat?

h2h he beats more then half that list

 

Oh, I don't doubt that Jeff had no business being in the ring that July 4th in Reno, just was pointing out that this was probably the best prepared version of Jack to ever appear in the ring.

Lil' Artha' might actually have been fairly comfortable with Smith clutching him in the ring, ripping through right uppercuts in the process. And he was far, far more proficient on defense than Smith and Tucker put together, utilizing nuances too subtle to be picked up by primitive film technology now over a century old, footage quality further degraded on services like youtube.

Saying Jeffries was at no time comparable to Smith and Tucker on a H2H basis is a bold assertion. James often had trouble pulling the trigger, and Jeff appears on better quality movie projector film (not youtube clips) to have had faster feet and better mobility than TNT.

 

I agree. I think Hasim Rahman would have stopped him without much trouble.

 

Who is Jeffries' greatest scalp? An old middle, an old lightheavy or some sawed off Irishman off the piers?

 

Although Johnson is a great great fighter even H2H in the modern era, he has to be the least capable h2h on that list.

his best chance is against Foreman, Frazier and Holyfield. Maybe the only one of them 3 I'd favour Johnson to beat is Foreman on the basis I think he's **** at beating defensive masters.

Frazier would be too aggressive for Johnson to beat. Whilst I feel reports demonstrate Johnson outboxed Hart, it is made quite clear that it is easily Johnson's toughest fight. If any HW can pressure relentlessly over 15 rounds, it's Frazier. he should take it on points.

Holyfield is very multi dimensional and I think he too could take the role of aggressor against Johnson. Providing he doesn't have heart issues he should be able to maintain the pace and outpunch Johnson over 15.

 

Sharkey II, coming in with an injured left (wiping out any notion he was strictly a left handed puncher, inflicting considerable damage with his right alone, under scorching movie lights for 25 rounds, and destroying Ruhlin on film in their rematch (impressively avenging their previous draw). Gus would knock out Sharkey for a second time after his failed challenge of Jeffries, and the Akron Giant would wipe out Maher in two a few months after Jeff stopped him.

Gus went on a two year, seven match undefeated streak after Jeffries-Ruhlin II, and would not get stopped again until the end, nine years later (a span of 14 bouts).