Jim Jeffries, underated ?

I guess if one wanted a reason its the lack of fights. quantity has a quality.all its own.

 

Well, if that's your list, that's your list, mate.

 

Fought a bunch of old, spindly middleweights, perhaps?

Jackson was a washed-up drunk by the time he got in the ring with Jeffries. Sharkey was just a sawed-off face first slugger. Corbett could barely be considered an active prizefighter he fought so infrequently. It's not a cast that inspires awe.

On the positive side, he was mostly a work in progress, and progressed quickly and far under the heat of fire. He was undoubtedly at his best when he retired. And he beat the best his era offered.

 

Great point made, sir.

There's a million reasons why he shouldn't be top-10. But hell, there's a million other reasons that could argue his way in. But, surely, there is absolutely no reason for him not to be in the discussion.

It should be noted though -- both Nat Fleischer (1972) and Charley Rose in 1968, rank him #5 and #2, respectively, in their all-time heavyweight rankings.

 

There is no way on earth Johnson deserves #3. That's simply fantasy.

 

Dempsey, Marciano, or Langford don't deserve to be placed above him.

 

I would make an argument for Marciano but they are very close. I agree with you on the other two.

This has been hashed out a dozen or so times around here. Better not to derail this thread.

As far as Jeffries, it's hard to say how he is rated today, probably underrated a bit. He was very highly rated in his day and for a time afterward but has definitely slipped. The succession of Johnson, Dempsey and Louis certainly had something to do with that.

 

I can see a case for Marciano honestly......

 

Fitzsimmons
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
Ketchel
Peter Jackson
Frank Childs was the 'colored heavyweight champion'

Some of these guys were undersized, but look good on Jackson's record, nonetheless.

 

I actually have Marciano 3rd of the three heavyweights I names, but to each its own.

But I hope we can agree Jeffries is underrated.

 

Is he?

Begob! He's not on my top three either. :conf

 

By credible people, I'm assuming, he's referring to historians and writers. Bert Sugar, Teddy Atlas, amongst others, have Johnson ranked 3rd.

No offense to the ESB'ers you quoted -- but I'd acknowledge Sugar and Atlas as credible, before them as well.