Jeffries v Rocky's Challengers?

Jeffries would have done very well against Marciano’s opposition, because he would have had a lot longer to develop, and he would have been a very complete fighter by the time he fought the best opposition.

OK, this isn’t exactly what is being asked.

We are talking about the best version of Jeffries that was (Corbett II or Munro), against the fighters listed.

By the time that Jeffries retired he functioning more as a pressure fighter than earlier in his career, and he seems to have become more methodical in breaking down opponents.

These attributes might well have translated into success against these opponents, even over the 15 round distance.

 

I strongly suspect the same thing...20 or more rounds Jeffries I suspect

 

I do not think that the fifteen round distance would necessarily harm Jeffries chances, if we are picking a version from later in his career.

He fought reactively during his early title reign, but started to adopt a more aggressive approach around the time of the second Ruhlin fight.

Bob Fitzsimmons fought a mobile fight in their rematch, and he only lasted eight rounds, and Jeffries seems to have improved after this.

Jim Corbett was obviously a mobile defensive fighter, and he lasted ten rounds in the rematch.

These were not the best fighters to demonstrate how a prime Jeffries would do against Walcott or Charles, but they were probably the best that could be managed at the time, and they were disposed of fairly quickly.

 

You definitely have a point..,maybe for 15 toss ups for me regarding Walcott and Charles...but Jeffries would have to be much more aggressive than he once was

 

Good post, thanks. I will try hunt around for the footage.

 

Thanks for the footage, McVey :good

Two things strike me immediately.

1) He's got pretty good movement, speed and is light on his feet for such a big guy
2) He's not such a big guy. 6'2' and 225lb is Povetkin sized, who is considered small for today's HW scene. I seem to recall 250lb 6'4'. :conf

 

1 ) Those dates are wrong. It should read 1910, not 1899.


If you read the reports, it says Jeffries was lively as a light weight vs Fitzsimmons in the first fight. In his re-match with Corbett, he out boxed him and beat him at his home game. So it matches with his sparring on clear film that shows Jeffries as a very strong and mobile fighter.

Usually, the major reports ( Like heavyweight title fights ) correspond what we see on film. So when there is no film, the reports have to do.

The Sharkey Johnson sparred with was a spent hurricane, and Kovalev isn't a clinching type. I don't see how this is relevant as the Johnson and Kovalev have two very different styles.

I happen to think Sharkey was faster than Marciano, and like Rocky always kept coming.

 

The 1899 film should read 1910, when he was out of the ring for 6 years and 35 year old. A shell of what he was.

Jeffries was a big guy, he just didn't have fat on him. His neck ( 18 1/2 ), chest ( over 50 inched expanded ), legs ( 26" ), and fist ( 13" ) would be big today.

If around today using whatever they legally can use I can easily see 230-235lbs in shape. If he was standing next to Povetkin in trunks, Povetkin would look much smaller in every measurement, save perhaps hips. Povetkin's a medium body fat type.

 

I see Walcott and Charles beating Jim. Not sure about La Starza but ****ell and Moore would lose.

 

Mcvey,

I have already covered the press said he fought like that. You just choose to ignore.atsch

Here's what needs to be discussed on Sharkey. Tom Sharkey was an aggressive attacker type who didn't focus on defense. Like Jack Dempsey and Joe Frazier, fighters with this style have shorter primes.

Regardless os being crude, he had good speed and stamina and no trouble landing and bettering fast fighters such as Corbett, McCoy or Choynski. So he was wild but able to land his power punches.

Sharkey took a frightful beating at the hands of Jeffries in their epic 25 round match in 1899. By late 1900, Sharkey's prime was over. He was stopped by Ruhlin and pole-axed by Fitzsimmons in two.

The Tom Sharkey Jack Johnson sparred with in 1901 was a spent hurricane. It doesn;t make Johnson look better,just look at how he went south past 1900.

Sharkey style is pretty much opposite of Kovalev's anyway.