If Wills Had Got A Shot At Willard?

Harry Wills was campaigning for a title chance when big Jess was champ if he had received one, do you think he would have been the second black heavyweight champion?
He beat Langford,McVey,Clark,Battling Jim Johnson,John Lester Johnson,Jeff Clark, and an old Joe Jeannette during Willard's undistinguished reign

 

He should beat Willard, he was simply to good not to be heavily favoured regardless of styles. His more pedestrian style should suit Willard much better than Dempey's furios attacks though. Wills won't have reach on him, and I suspect it will be fougt at a slow tempo with Wills winning most of the rounds by outboxing the giant. Willard had a good chin and I think he would last the distance, the fact that he carried his power late gives him a punchers chance and Wills will have to be careful. A Willard stoppage is highly unlikely though, in the end Wills was a great fighter, Willard wasnt. Wills by UD.

 

I think Wills would have won.

His record simply points to him being much the better fighter.

 

Yes I agree, I wonder if he would have defended against Jack Dempsey? Or would he have kept beating up on Kid Norfolk and Jeff Clark?

 

Where was the big money?

 

I don't know.

If Willard has it scheduled for 50 rounds Willard probably stops him late on.

Even if Wills is able to outbox him his style was that displeasing he wouldn't get the decision.

I think Wills only shot is KO and I don't see it happening. I'm not saying Willard beats him i just can't envision Harry taking the belt home.

 

Wills was the second highest paid heavyweight of Dempsey's era.

 

But the big money as champion is going to be fighting the top white challengers like Fulton, Dempsey, Firpo, and perhaps Gibbons.

I doubt it if Wills' purses were anything like the ones Dempsey and Tunney pulled down in their championship fights.

 

Wills would of defeated Willard. In less spectacular fashion. He would have defended it against Dempsey for sure.

 

Wills proved he could lick Fulton and a fat Firpo .Gibbons might be problematical, though he would be giving up size and weight to Harry.
I doubt Wills could get away with being as inactive as Dempsey was I think the predominantly white press would be on his case to defend regularly and against "suitable challengers".:hey

 

I'd go with Wills based on resume alone.. But in truth there's not much footage of either man in their primes to draw a concrete conclusion.

 

The Willard of Havana might have been a sterner test than most think for Wills.:think

 

Indeed, but given Willard's lack of motivation as champion, and Wills hunger as a challenger, you might well be inclined to think that Wills would have lifted the title.

Of course like Dempsey, he would have gone into any fight with Willard, as a significant underdog.

 

12 rounds and under, I like Wills. Wills film slightly past his prime was not very impressive.

15 rounds, hard to call.

In a longer match 20-25 rounds, I think Willard wins.

 

I think there is a huge gap in talent here. Wills knocked out Fulton who was the better giant than Willard. I think Willard gets badly outclassed by wills