If Dempsey is a modern LHW what other modern LHWs beat Willard?

Keep in mind that the world heavyweight championship bout between Jess Willard, the champion, and Jack Dempsey, the challenger, was a no-decision one. That meant Willard would have retained the title if the bout went the distance, even if he took a terrible beating and was knocked down repeatedly.

- Chuck Johnston

 

I would have loved to have seen Willard vs Primo Carnera. Multiple knockdowns, final KO of monumental proportions. Like Godzilla vs Kong.

 

An interesting factor might be if the modern guy wore 10 ounce gloves and Willard wore the gloves of his era, which I believe were 4s.
How would the modern guy take the punches from a 245 pound guy with tiny gloves? Would Willard even notice punches from a light heavy in 10s? Keep in mind that Gunboat Smith said that, in that era, they sparred with 8s.

 

If we are talking about Toledo Willard, the guy who sluffed off training and sparring, I would say many, many, many cruisers and lightheavies would take him.

Many, many, many.

 

How would that be even remotely fair? Why would two opponents wear different ounce gloves? They should both be the same.

 

Because the op specifies the Willard that fought Dempsey- and he wore 4s- and a modern light heavyweight, and the modern guy wears 10s every time he fights.

 

I'd back Bob Foster, D.ck Tiger and Michael Spinks. Oh, and Archie Moore of course.

 

Well by his own admission in his book Jack says he was 180lbs for the fight against Jess.

 

Pardon- They would be under the modern rule sets also.

 

Why do you add the

-Chuck Johnston?

 

I'd add James Toney as well.

 

LHW James Toney would not beat Jess Willard.

None of the modern examples provided in this thread would. Nope. Nuh uh.

 

Bob Foster is a huge call, with his record against Heavyweights. I cant see it.

 

Dempsey at his best was just under 190lbs? but possibly about 180lbs by his own mouth.
He could easily have shed off the water weight to make LHW, plenty of LHWs today come in heavier then Dempsey.

 

Billy Conn......

Jack Dempsey would have beaten Joe Louis.

Fighting with 6 oz. gloves in that era, you had to be awful tough and crazy.

Question? If the mitts have extra bandages/gauze, two or three times the limit, would he hit harder, wearing 6oz. gloves?