Harry Wills v Tommy Gibbons15rds?

Wills. Purely on the old adage, " a good big un, always beats a good little un " not that Gibbons was small.

 

Wills was far more accomplished at the heavyweight level.

 

I'd be inclined to favor Wills but Arcel who knew all of these fighters better than any of us termed Gibbons "a great fighter" and an "excellent performer". Arcel who mentored under Wills trainer termed Wills "a good journeyman". The decades since have been kind to Wills while Gibbons in comparison has been forgotten.

 

Watching the vid's to refresh my memory, while Gibbons could hit he tended to fight rushing in to land what he could. That was Wills game and he was bigger and stronger, my vote would be Wills. But I don't think it would be a walk in the park.

 

I have only been able to find about 2 minutes each of Wills with Madden and Firpo, and the KO footage with Uzcudun. Probably less than five minutes all together.

One thing I noticed about Wills, though. He had a long, strong left jab and used it.

With that weapon, plus the huge size and strength gap on the inside, I think makes this a fairly easy call for Wills.

I noticed one big difference between Gibbons and Tunney against Dempsey. Tunney could tie up Dempsey inside. Gibbons could not. I think it a stretch to think Gibbons could tie up Wills.

 

While I believe Wills would be too strong and physical for Gibbons, Wills was no defensive wizard. Gibbons was said to have some power, he more then likely would have landed on Wills much like the same size as Gibbons, Bartley Madden did on the inside. Madden didn't have the power Gibbons had and he was landing hooks inside cleanly. Wills might have won but it wouldn't have been a walk in the park for him. Wills jab was more of stiff arm much like they use in football, no snap and the only purpose was to use it as a battering ram.

 

Dempsey1234

Wills jab

"the only purpose was to use it as a battering ram"

Yes, the few he used against Firpo. Wills used it driving forward.

"no snap"

Got to disagree. The opponents' heads snap back when he uses that jab.

And he does snap the jab out against the shorter Madden.

Less than four minutes of footage isn't much to draw conclusions on, but that Wills looks as bad as you're making out I just don't see. He toys with Firpo and Madden on the footage.

If all we had on Dempsey was four minutes from the first two rounds against Tunney, we wouldn't really know anything about most of his strengths.

 

You have to know what you are looking at. FYI, a snapping jab is not when the opponents head snaps back. Watch the way Tunney jabs.

If you know what you are looking at and know what to look for, 4 min is more then enough, to get an idea of what he might've fought like. Couple it with the fight reports it gives you an idea.

Wills, head snaps back from inside hooks by Madden, and Madden wasn't the puncher Gibbons was.

Even if you watch the worst 4 min of the Tunney fights you would get an idea of Dempsey's style, he was a bob and weaver looking to knock your head off, and he also didn't jab much.

 

Sorry, based upon that, I am picking Wills. Much more to go on.

 

Fukkin hell this a first. A post where you didn't write " I lived through those times "

I was beginning to wonder whether in fact you were Methuselah.

 

I like Wills to win a close decision ( 8-6-1 ) and Gibbons to make a good showing.

Willis superior power, size and length I think would have a more skilled but smaller Gibbons running or playing defense too often to win enough rounds.

Something like Dempsey vs Gibbons, but with Gibbons landing a bit more.

 

"a good journeyman"

I would like to know the origin of this quote. Roger Kahn quotes Arcel on page 300 and 301 as saying

"He didn't hit anywhere near as hard as Dempsey,"

Okay. Good point.

"and he didn't move anywhere near as smoothly as Carpentier."

Very weird comment as he is comparing the movement of a super-heavyweight to a smallish light-heavyweight. Why would folks expect a really big fellow to move like a guy who began fighting professionally as a flyweight.

"I would rate Wills as a very good journeyman."

A man who beat everyone he fought until he was 37, including Langford, McVea, Norfolk, Fulton, Meehan, J L Johnson, and Firpo? It would have been one thing to criticize Wills as overrated, but this just seems over the top.

But

as Kahn provides no footnote or source for this quote, who knows if it is legit.

Arcel has been quoted as saying he thought Wills had the style for Dempsey to handle. Okay. But I would like to know where the putdown here originally came from and if it is a legit quote from Arcel, or just some sort of mix-up.