Harry Wills vs. Luis Firpo

But don't forget I think Amanda Nunez could kknnock out Connman McGregerrer.

 

Was a dirty knockdown of Firpo on the break. Something Wills was known for. I don’t find the footage impressive of Wills. Firpo loads up on a haymaker Wills blocks the two fall into a clinch. Rinse repeat for entire fight.

 

No Decisions were allowed in New Jersey until 1928.

 

Yeah hard to believe Dempsey was terrified of Wills based on this fight.

 

The knockdown looks dirty to modern eyes but this was an era when "protect yourself at all times" was supposed to be taken literally. As the referee put it:

"There seemed some disposition to criticise Wills for hitting Firpo as they came out of that clinch in the second - that righthander which put Firpo on the floor. The blow was perfectly legitimate. It landed simply because Firpo was too careless in breaking away to hold up his hands and protect himself. He came out of the clinch with his hands down and Wills simply popped him."

 

From what I have read Firpo was not in good condition.An aging Wills knocked him down, hitting on the break.Wills doesnt seem to have had much trouble with Firpo but it was rather a bore snore by all accounts.

 

I recall Firpo stated he was only in shape to box for a couple rounds.

I think he's visibly in worse shape.

 

Wills had surgery on his hands earlier in the year and was hesitant to take chances and risk breaking them which is why he boxed conservatively against Madden and Firpo. Despite this he dominated both, disgustingly rearranging Maddens face and dropping Firpo in the process of easily winning every round. Notice how he staggers Firpo with a jab and despite Firpos vaunted strength Wills controls him easily, clearly the stronger man.

 

Wills at least could avoid those wind up and throw right hands which look almost like a major league pitcher throwing a baseball. Dempsey got hit by some of those. The issue with Dempsey and Wills is would Wills prove as vulnerable to Dempsey's punch as Willard and Firpo did, or would he still be there like Gibbons?

I agree that Firpo did not seem in good shape, but I don't think he was in that good of a shape for the Dempsey fight and I think more or less emptied the tank and punched himself out in that first round. I will elaborate on the Dempsey-Firpo thread.

 

Dempsey would have had two of wills before breakfast... Kearns
Who managed both
Willard would have defeated wills
Wills was a good fighter just not in dempseys class... No shame in that

 

I don`t think, that Willard would've beaten him, maybe over 45 rounds.

 

I think Wills talent as a fighter and a puncher is beyond dispute .. the asterisk od Dempsey's career and a huge one ... period.