Jim Jeffries v Rocky Marciano 15rds

But Jeffries did have success and could beat the best in the world.

The same way not every WW is good enough to beat a LHW, not every CW is good enough to beat a SHW.

And in this case I say Jeffries does a job.

 

Jeffries had success in another code. Practically a separate sport.

Sure not every WW is good enough to beat a LHW at boxing I agree with that. How about a LHW sized MMA fighter against a WW at boxing? That’s almost the comparison we are talking about. A 176 pound MMA guy taking on a welterweight pro boxer AT BOXING.

Then add this to the fact that you are disregarding that for hundreds of years CW sized boxers literally were as big as great fighters got. You didn’t get great fighters bigger than that until AFTER Marciano retired.

We don’t know if Jeffries might not develop beyond George chuvalo type level of prowess at modern boxing. A strong durable plodder. We don’t know.

We do know big Jeff was a sensation when he was around in his day. When boxing was a different sport. Jeff was unbeatable at that format. We should respect that.

 

He would have to change his gameplan completely.

Those guys did not throw roundhouse blows in the way we understand. They had to use a different kind of punch using a different part of the knuckles. It restricts the whole repertoire of a modern boxing schoolset of punches.

They fought a more patient game. Sure Sharkey might unload at some point. When it was safe. But as Gunboat said “you got hit, you got hurt, you learned fast”.

You got hurt at both ends of the punch. Your hands hurt. Jack Dempsey wrote about fist fighting he had in the pass the hat saloons. He said in fist fighting you throw straight punches and you aim to land with the last two knuckles. If you make impact with the first two knuckles you break your hand. There is also a famous diagram of kid McCoy throwing his corkscrew punch. It’s like nothing that is taught now or 50 years ago. The gloves Jim used were not really padded at all. The leather protected the skin. Not the bones.

 

The technique is the same. We are talking gloves without wraps or any padding.

The guys that fought in Bob Fitzsimmons era fought the same way. They even started out without gloves.

 

I don't think the difference is as dramatic as you suggest tbh.

Rocky isn't good enough to overcome a 30 pound weight disadvantage here. I would pick Rocky against Choysnki, Sharkey, Fitz and Corbett. But I wouldn't pick him against Jeffries and maybe not against Johnson.

Rocky never proved he could be a world class fighter 30 pounds heavier than he.

Govkin is a great MW but I wouldn't pick him against CW sized fighters for the same reason. Foster was a great LHW but I wouldn't pick him against HW sized fighters neither. Some guys can't make the jump some can.

How many LHW guys would I pick Hagler over for instance? It's hard because he isn't proven against LHW sized fighters so it's a leap of faith.

Rocky just isn't proven against HW sized fighters, he is proven at CW and that's where I rank him.

 

Yes he did. Joe Louis was world class.

And for the tenth time a weight difference was not a weight advantage once you got past CW sized men until years after Rocky retired and modern advances changed training.

Since Jeffries came before that period it’s almost a non issue.

 

I've broken my hands three times punching. Actually, my right hand. I was better off throwing wild haymakers than a straight punch from the shoulder because the haymakers used to land on the palm and underside of the knuckles whereas the straight punch fractured the hand. Maybe I've got wuss hands.

 

Joe Louis was way past his best, but yes Rocky showed he could beat a past his best HW fighter.

For the 11th time, size has always been and always will be an advantage.

Therefore it is an issue therefore I pick Jeffries to win

 

This one is brutal, Rocky is attacking a bigger ,stronger man who in this matchup is in his prime ,not the shell who fought Johnson. I couldn't be confident Rocky could win , if Walcott and Moore can drop Rocky so can Jeffries. 50/50 fight

 

Yes Joe Louis was past his best, but still World Class at modern boxing. Rated #1, active, and the logical challenger to Charles on an 8 fight win streak. So even this version of Louis counts more than Jeffries does when it comes to modern boxing.

Big Jeff never had a fight at modern boxing. He fought in cowboy times when prize fighting was a completely different sport.

The guys old joe Louis beat in that 8 fight streak probably would beat all the guys Jeffries defended his title against if they were fighting under modern boxing standards. Because Those guys never fought under modern rules.

 

I pick Jeffries.

 

So do I in the Jeffries era. Just not in Rockys era.