James J Jeffries versus Jack Dempsey prime for prime

I am sorry for people with agendas against both, because they can’t both loose!

 

I think speed, footwork, and head movement would be the difference here. Dempsey wins.

 

I'm actually thinking Jeffries stops Dempsey, I believe with his chin, clinching and very underrated defense he'll survive Dempsey's early Blitz and continue to come on stronger as Dempsey weakens. Fitz who was a genuine 1 punch KO artist, even against bigger men, couldn't dent Jeffries chin.

 

Its an entirely plausible scenario that Jeffries draws Dempsey's sting and comes on to stop him late.
As I said earlier ,much might depend on the referee and his attitude to the early stick Jeffries may be forced to weather.

 

I think the comments have been pretty balanced so far.

 

Honestly it's tough to judge how effective Jeffries was because all we can see of him in his prime was filmed through a cigar box.

However given the success fitz had in landing hard and often on Jeffries, I think Dempsey would knock him out. I know Jeffries is supposedly this ultra durable god but Willard was seen in the same light.

Anyone finding themselves consistently hit hard by Dempsey will get stopped I can't think otherwise. There are many out there who he wouldn't consistently land against but Jeffries ain't one of them imo.

 

As do I tho perhaps one of the tougher fights of Dempsey career. Definitely don't see Jack actually stopping him.

 

Dempsey,not mentioned yet is Jeffries was a little too heavy for Munroe and not in his usual top condition, he only did perfunctory training and spent most of his time fishing,not wise against the Tiger that half killed Willard.

 

I take a peak Jeff to beat Dempsey. I think Dempsey's only good chance is getting Jeff out early. The longer it goes, the worse it would be for him.

Gibbons was no bigger than Fitz, and actually shorter. I think he was 3 lbs. heavier in listed weight. Who was the best actual heavyweight that Gibbons beat? Adam Pollack maintained that Fitz underplayed his actual weight and was probably ten lbs. heavier than he claimed. They did not weigh in back then for heavyweight bouts.

A lot depends in this fight on Jeff being aggressive. Laying back against Dempsey would be the wrong strategy. If Jeff comes forward I think he can force Dempsey to go on the defensive.

Advantages Jeffries--much bigger. He would outweigh Dempsey by 25 to 30 lbs. I think Jeff was tougher and had a better chin. Jeff certainly had more proven stamina.

Advantages Dempsey--quicker. Faster hands and combinations. Harder puncher.

Both men fought in a crouch. Dempsey the much deeper one. How fighting another man in a crouch would have effected them is a critical wild card. I think Dempsey would have more trouble with a man who is keeping low than tall and straight up guys like Fulton and Willard. Jeff? I don't know how a crouching opponent would effect him.

 

I don't see Jeff as being dynamic enough for the best version of Dempsey. Sharkey, hardly a ring technician nor endowed with physical assets, busted up Jeff quite a bit. Jack had elite quicks and when disciplined had high level technical ability on offense. I think Jack jumps all over Jeffries and hammers him down round after round until a mercy stoppage around the 4th.

 

What you have come up with, sort of chimes with my own view of how this fight might resolve itself , also you raise a valid observation regarding the punchers Jeffries has fought and their possible comparison with Dempsey.
The likes of Sharkey, Fitzsimmons, and in particular Choynski were no powder puffs, so Jeffries would have no fears with what Dempsey had to offer, also Firpo and Willard ( from what footage we have seen ) fought in a upright stance, with heads invitingly still , wherehas Jeffries fought out of a crouch, covering his very solid chin behind his huge arms and shoulders, so as to make it difficult for Dempsey to land his haymakers.
My ( fantasy) breakdown of this intriguing battle is that Dempsey will start fast, hurt Jeffries multiple times, stun, rock, and possibly cut Jeffries, but at some stage Jeff,s incredible endurance, and inhuman ability to absorb punishment will hold him in good stead, and he will pummell Dempsey into submission before the 10th, finishing up a bruised and battered winner.
stay safe guys.

 

Big and slow guys, who were slow starters, were Dempsey's cup of tea. I think Jack finishes what Bob Fitzsimmons started to do. IMHO, Jack busts up Jim so badly that even Jeffries just cannot continue fighting. And unlike many, I don't question Dempsey's stamina in his absolute prime. Jeffries would have had to survive at least 10 horrendously brutal rounds, relatively undamaged (even by his own standards), in order to have a chance, and I just don't see that happening. (Even referees and officials in those days would pull the plug if it got too ugly for one of the fighters. I believe this might have very well become one of those cases.)

 

Yes, but was Jeffries actually slow?

I think in his prime he might have been much faster than Willard or Firpo, if not as fast as Dempsey.

 

I say Dempsey stops him like Frazier beat Chuvalo.

 

While both men have a good chance, I’d probably favor Dempsey. He was faster of both hand and foot and Jeffries defense was questionable.