Willard V Fitzsimmons ?

I see two scenarios, Jess getting by with his telephone pole jab ,or Fitz whittling him down with brutal body punches. I'm picking the latter outcome.Fitz scores a stoppage by sustained beating or inflicts enough damage to take the decision. Willard goes to hospital after this one.

 

Fitz would beat up Willard badly. Jess big body gives Bob big target. Willard was also stationary and prefered fighting in range - where Fitz was at his deadliest. Willard had good jab and underrated uppercut, along with quick for his size right cross but I doubt he'd find Fitz many times. Fitzsimmons was good defensive fighter with very good instinct. Fitz had also terrific stamina and he knew how to pace himself. I don't see even Willard sustaining Fitz attacks for 45 rounds.

Before someone says that Jeffries outlasted Fitz - Jeffries fought much differently than Willard. He attacked the body much more and he fought much more inside. His crouch also made him tougher to attack the body.

Fitz, with some problems, would stop Willard. Jab can be a big problem, but Fitz was very quick and Jess is not Corbett in terms of quickness.

 

His crouch was ridiculous. He smartened up and largely abandoned it later in his short career.

 

Did he? He fought out of the crouch against Johnson too. Either way, his body was definitely tougher to find than Willard's.

 

Fitzsimmons wouldn't focus only on the head. His body punches had tremendous power. You can see some examples here:

https://streamable.com/r487t

 

Fitsimmons by Brutal body shot KO

 

Why Fitz when he lost the title? He did better in the rematch. Or why not when he won the title since we atleast have some footage.

Anyway I pick Fitz by KO

 

Fitz had that vicious heart punch that Dempsey later adopted. They both mention if frequently in books written about them.

 

Fitz told him to lose it as he was giving away his height .

 

Fitz would win here. Willard was just too slow and about as defensive as a heavy bag.

Some felt that Fitz hit harder than Dempsey.