The Willard of the Jack Johnson fight was a tough, hard, strong, durable man. Forget the Willard that Dempsey demolished. That Willard was fat, old, and had been drinking heavily. Willard went 26 hard rounds against Jack Johnson, a man who many consider the greatest ever. Granted, Jack was old and past his prime, but, they fought on July 4th in Havana Cuba in the blazing hot sun for 26 rounds. The ref said the ring was so hot his feet were burning. THAT WILLARD would have beaten Lyle. He took some hard shots showed great stamina and had power in both hands. Dempsey always said Willard was underrated as a puncher.
It is an interesting fight .. both had very little boxing experience before turning pro .. both turned pro very late .. Both were big guys, not exceptionally fast of hand or foot .. both were big punchers and extremely strong .. Lyle started faster and may have been more explosive but Willard had a better chin and better stamina .. the classic Lyle early or Willard late ..
Lyle was the better athlete and the better boxer. Prime for Prime he has far greater upside and stops Willard in the 4th or 5th.
How would you know that Lyle was the better athlete ? Willard came out of Kansas from a dirt poor upbringing and was a legitimate cowboy which is a very strenuous, physical upbringing.
Willard was "as fit as any man who ever entered a boxing ring" the day he fought Johnson. For months his trainers had him run up the tallest hills they could find to strengthen his legs so he could go the 45 round distance. Lyle, and I watched him live, had trouble going 12 rounds let alone 45.
Many years ago, when I was a kid in high school, before Lyle fought Quarry, I saw him train for a fight at Sunnyside Gardens in Queens, NY. He was NOT athletic. At least not compared to other top fighters I saw. He was winded after three rounds of sparring and was quite slow and jumped rope like he had to left feet. I knew later on that Quarry was going to take him apart. Willard would have too.
