My hunch is that Holmes was ready to be taken at that point. I think that Thomas or Witherspoon might have done it, if they had got the shot instead of Spinks. I think that even the greatest heavyweights, at that stage of their career, are going to be vulnerable to the best of a weak era.
Sounds right to me. Let's be honest,watching on film, Jeffries has rudimental skills compared to somebody like Spinks. Back then boxing was in its early stages. Spinks UD
I'm highlighting the fact that you think 29 years old Cooney who had lost only to Holmes and who had fought a year earlier was ring rusty but do not accept the fact that a 37 and 39 years old Fitz, who was inactive for a year and a half for their first fight and two years for their second was not only ring rusty but old! Tangstad was ko'd the year Spinks fought him? Finnegan was ko'd in his previous fight! For his first fight with Jeffries Corbett hadn't won a fight for over 6 ****ing years! For their second he hadn't had a fight for 3 years, had confirmed eye problems and was a month away from his 37th birthday! Ruhlin had been half killed by Fitzsimmons a year earlier when he fought Jeffries ! Deliberate Hypocrisy!
He doesn't look slow against Ruhlin. Jeffries was usually shorter than his opponent. When did that happen actually? He beat Fitzsimmons in 8 and 11 rounds, Ruhlin in 6 rounds, Goddard in 4 rounds, Munroe in 1 round. Only Sharkey (twice) and Corbett once lasted with him 20 rounds in significant fights (and Corbett was outboxed and knocked out in 10th second time). Spinks wouldn't fight at 220 lbs. Jeffries was used to have height and reach disadvantage.
I cant concieve of a dimension where Jeffries is competitive with Spinks. It's not like there isnt footage; if you see that footage and say to yourself "that guy could hang with modern heavies", you need to find the closest flight of stairs and throw yourself down them immediately.
What footage? Jeffries looks beyond terrible in Johnson fight, but he was so far from his prime that it doesn't matter. He actually looks good against Ruhlin in short blurry video we have.
Jeffries was taller than Munroe Choynski Sharkey Fitzsimmons The same height as Goddard Buskirk That's 7 in which he had no height disadvantage .Do you think perhaps his weight and age advantage might have been a factor in his big wins ? Jeffries had a reach advantage over Choynski Fitzsimmons Corbett Sharkey Goddard Munro Johnson
Choynski went 20 rds Ruhlin1st fight 20 rds Sharkey 20 & 25 rds Corbett 23rds As champion Jeffries would not have defended against a black challenger.That much we can be certain of.
That leaves us with: Griffin Ruhlin Jackson Everett Armstrong Corbett Kennedy As I said, he was used to fight with both shorter and taller fighters. Weight was definitely helpful, he was a very powerfully built man. Age is tricky because it definitely helped against Corbett, Jackson or Goddard but at the same time, he was quite young and inexperienced against guys like Sharkey, Choynski, Everett, Armstrong and Fitz for the first time.
So 3 fights I mentioned and two fights when Jeffries was a complete novice. I know, Ruhlin also was a novice and that's why I don't include this fight.
That last sentence says it all. I disagree. He looks absolutely inept. Also I was considering the footage of the fighters that fought him in other fights, specifically Fitz, who looks equally inept. Specifically and most obviously defensively, but overall too.
Griffin was described as looking like a famine sufferer. Jackson was 37 years old alcoholic and consumptive,he also hadn't fought for several years . Everett was half an inch taller. Kennedy was fat and Jeffries sparring partner. This leaves us with Corbett who was an inch and a half taller,he went 23 rds in their first fight and Armstrong whom you refuse to believe was 184lbs and also refute was around that weight for 4 other fights despite what Box Rec states. Experience ?Jeffries had had more fights than Munro Kennedy Corbett Long
