Not at all because he would have the same advantage over most champions until 1970s. We don't talk about P4P power, Lennox Lewis is huge guy and it doesn't make him overrated in that aspect for example. Age and activity is a different point that is more important, but it's not like Sharkey, Ruhlin and others were much older than Jeffries. He beat old and young fighters.
Then that advantage would have to be factored in, in any era in which it was applicable! Lennox Lewis knocked out huge heavyweights Jeffries NEVER did and his quick kos were over 3rd rate dubs, and men not only over the hill but halfway up the next one! Jeffries never stopped Sharkey in 2 tries , Ruhlin was retired by his corner . THis is the Sharkey that Fitz kod twice only to be robbed in their 1st fight! This is the same Ruhlin, Fitzsimmons had half killed earlier!
Sharkey went the distance twice, 45rds.Fitz ko'd Sharkey twice as in knocked him out! Ruhlin was retired by his corner fully conscious, Fitz ko'd him,knocked him spark out,he was carried back to his corner placed on his stool, fell off and lapsed into a coma,carried to his dressing room where he spent the night on a makeshift cot, too ill to be moved ,with blood oozing out of his nose an ears .lapsing in and out of consciousness .A Doctor in attendance all night in ca se his condition worsened .His manager took him to his home after for a period of convalescence. Jeffries never did any such thing against an opponent.
True, but who said that Jeffries was as good puncher as Fitzsimmons? I have Fitz in the highest tier possible in that aspect. Jeffries was very good but not ATG puncher.
Yes it would subtract from power. Jeffries had large fists. 13 inches, I think. I would not waste much time with Tonto/Mcvey. We read his replies before. Regarding the quicker Ko’s it’s not only the stoppage it’s how he moved them. Guys flew backward at times according to the primary press at hand.
Jeffries stopped both Ruhlin and Corbett faster than Fitz. He also gave Sharkey a beating that took away his prime which included broken ribs and a hospital stay. Fitz fought that version of Sharkey for his early KO. If you put stock in psi punching machines Jeffries hit harder than Fitzsimmons and he was the only man to stop fitz in a 14-15 year period. Jeff didn’t need a lot of room to ko his man. He could do it in as little as six inches. Like I said before heavy hands.
I'm sure Jeffries was a strong man, particularly for his era. Compared to other heavyweight champs who came after, I don't think he was anything special when it came to power. For example, Deontay Wilder basically fights at the same weight Jeffries did, but against much larger men, and Wilder's KO percentage is 95 percent, compared to Jefrries' 67%. Jeffries was never outweighed in any fight. Wilder has been outweighed in every fight he's competed in for the last seven years. In the majority of his title defenses, Wilder's been outweighed by 20 pounds or more. And he's stopped every man he's fought, except Fury, who is a slick 6'9' boxer/puncher who outweighed Wilder by roughly 45 pounds, as opposed to the slick boxer/punchers Jeffries fought who were nearly a foot shorter and close to 100 pounds lighter than Fury. If Wilder was fighting guys who weighed in the 160s or 180s like Jeffries, he'd probably have killed a number of people already. I respect the pioneers. But Jeffries was someone I never really understood what all the excitement was about. He just seemed like someone who absorbed a lot of punishment from smaller guys and gradually blasted them. I imagine George Chuvalo (who was the same size, absorbed shots and had roughly the same KO percentage) would've found the same success back then as Jeffries did.
Then we have no argument "Jeffries had a solid wallop" ,"Fitz could knock your brains out." Jack Johnson. Neither Corbett,Fitzsimmons, or Sharkey named Jeffries as the hardest puncher they faced.
Jeff was a big and strong man in his day with a great deal of stamina and toughness. His power? I don't see him as a top echelon puncher. Fitz, Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Liston, Foreman, Tyson, Lewis, Wlad, and Wilder all impress as being a level above Jeff as a puncher. Did Jeff have any KO that was as impressive as that of Andy Ruiz over Joshua? Not to me. Jeff was an important historical figure, but I think boxing has improved so much, and grown in popularity in areas where it was unknown in the 1890's, that it is a real leap of faith that he could compete in later eras.
Fitz beat a prime Corbett .Not a 33years old man coming out of retirement who hadn't fought for a year and a half nor won a fight for 6years! Nor a one month off of 37 years old man who had been retired for 3 years! Fitz ko'd a 23 years old Sharkey before he challenged Jeffries Sharkey was 25 when Fitz kod him again, hardly an old man! Fitz kod Sharkey and Ruhlin in the space of two weeks! Jeffries never managed to ko either! Fitz half killed Ruhlin BEFORE Jeffries fought him Fitz knocked him spark out Jeffries beat him on a corner retirement. Fitz kod Sharkey twice Jeffries never managed it! Now want to debate Jeffries quick wins over those 3rd rate dubs you cited as evidence he was a huge puncher?? I'll be here all night!
Chuvalo! , that's what the description of Jefferies reminds me of, may have hit harder than George but that's not provable
