Jess Willard of the Johnson fight vs Dempsey

I think Dempsey did enough to convince me that the outcome would be similar. Maybe it would take longer for the initial knockdown?

Then again, contrary to popular belief, Willard put up a great fight against Dempsey. Getting up over and over again. Even recovering and landing some big punches.

This is a good question, but I have to say Dempsey KO 4.

 

Unfortunately Willard was never in the same class as Dempsey. The videos I have seen of him besides the Dempsey fight reveal a horrible technique for a HW world champion. Maybe he would have weathered the initial storm, but with the amount of damage Jack did to him early on, I can't see Willard rallying to win.

 

I think that we would still have to favour Dempsey, but it is actually an intriguing fight.

Willard is the kind of fighter who could be serious trouble for anybody, if they gave him the space to establish his game.

Even after Toledo, there were those who argued that Willard offered the best available challenge for Dempsey.

 

Dempsey deserves to be the solid favorite but there's a much better chance than his fanboys would ever allow. Boxers aren't born on Mt. Rushmore, fate and chance play a huge role in allowing all their success. Willard may very well have been a shot fighter when he faced Dempsey, and still did better than conventional wisdom suggests.

 

Fighters like Dempsey don’t find it easy beating fighters like Willard, they only make it look easy.

It is all a bit of a conjuring trick at the end of the day!

 

dempsey wins, a shot johnson showed the joke that willard was, lasting more of 20 rounds with him. a prime jonhson beats dempsey too

 

Johnson may put up a better fight, but the outcome isn't in any doubt.

 

The speed and accuracy of the shot that he dropped Johnson after well over an hour of fighting with isn't that much of a joke

 

There is no doubt that Willard of 1915 would have done a lot better with Dempsey than the Willard of 1919 did. 4 years of relative inactivity hurts any heavyweight. After beating Johnson in April 1915, Willard fought again one year later in a 10-round no decision against Moran. But after that late March 1916 contest, he didn't fight again for the next three years, not until July 1919. So it stands to reason that you aren't going to be as good at something you don't do seriously for 3 years. Whether Willard beats Dempsey at his best is another question. But I have zero doubt that the 1915 Willard puts up a lot tougher fight.

 

Willard in the surviving flims looks as good or better than Johnson in several rounds, not just the ending. While a good historian would say the film doesn't include the earliest rounds that went to Johnson, my reply is so what. This was a long fight, and if the scheduled rounds were fewer Willard gets to work earlier.

While Willard's defense and mobility were poor, he took a good punch, knew how to use his length, and had stamina to fight 25+ rounds.

Dempsey's weakness was he was a whirlwind type, who didn't have long fights. Dempsey vs. Willard in 1919 was scheduled for just 12 rounds.

In a fight scheduled for 20 or 25, Williard would have a very good chance, but in 12 rounds I'd pick Dempsey via mid to late round TKO or via decision.

 

I give Willard a good shot. An old, fat, cr*ppy Willard almost survived the storm to take Jack into deep waters but he quit, as he was accustomed to doing.

 

1915 Willard was light years ahead of the inactive. out-of-shape, aging Willard. Of course the fight would have been different. How different? Considerally different, in my opinion. A different winner? Hmmmm.

 

I actually think Willard probably takes him. He was supremely motivated for the Johnson fight and in much better shape. That same mentality combined with boxing condition means he likely wins imo

 

Johnson showed that prime Willard can be out boxed with caution, speed and footwork.

If Dempsey can hold his cool for the fight he has the attributes to beat Willard. Willard might be more active and quicker on his feet here but his jab is still telegraphed and a lot slower than Dempsey's hook.

Might be a few rounds of testing the waters but if Jack keeps his cool, there'll be a point when Willard is too lazy with his jab and Jack will have an opening.

Jack tko 5-8