Jack Dempsey.. Or James J Jeffries?

I figure Dempsey will catch him with some crazy ass punch in the middle rounds. Jefferies has also not encountered a boxer of the like of Dempsey, not sure how he'd contend with the head movement and bob and weave style

 

Jeffries beat the three major styles all form quality men. The puncher ( Fitzsimmons ) the speedy boxer type ( Corbett ) and the rough and tough swarmer type ( Sharkey ). Actually he beat them all twice. Dempsey said if the meet at their best he probably get his chin knocked off. Defensively on film he is there to be hit.

When I look at the records I see a Ko 1 loss to Flynn, and losses to Meehan, and some struggles to quite a few other guys that Jeffries bounces out of the ring. Pick who you like or take Jack's word.

 

I always try to picture the fight in my mind in these H2H matchups, and never go with examining records or giving any extra credence to size, era, etc. Just the 2 men at their best going at it in my head (and they've got plenty of room ).

Problem is, I only have a slight idea of what JJJ looked like - Dempsey's obviously a bit easier with all the footage available. If there is no footage available, like in Greb's and many other cases, I have to go with whatever I know of them.

I can see Dempsey's quickness & effective aggression seeing him through to a clear decision victory, can't see Jeffries getting KO'd.

 

If fighters in the twilight years of their heavyweight careers like Corbett and Fitsimmons, were able to keep Jefferies honest when he himself was in the prime of his, I see Dempsey in his prime being a very tough bout for Jefferies.

Who knows perhaps Jefferies was a Marciano and could absorb punishment and still prevail against anyone.

But I still think Dempsey wins and Mr Jefferies would be getting many sutures post fight.

 

Dempsey was extremely fast of both hands and feet and this is overlooked today. That speed was combined with terrific punching power. Although I respect Jeffries and believe his abilities have been forgotten over time he does not last long with Dempsey. Dempsey by ko within five rounds

 

Dempsey was always gracious out of the ring and a very quick killer in the ring. I don’t think Jeffries lasts 5 rounds. He would be hit with combinations harder than he ever thought possible.

 

The first issue here, is that we have a fairly clear idea what Dempsey was, but we don't have a very clear idea what Jeffries was.

So we are effectively matching Dempsey, against various possible interpretations of Jeffries.

Most of those interpretations would lose to Dempsey.

However the monster that some journalists spoke of after the Corbett II and Munro fights, whose newfound cleverness had asserted itself, might have been a fighter capable of defeating Dempsey.

There were people suggesting that he had by then become the full package.

 

To me Jefferies never faced opposition with such an understanding of kinematics and aggressive defense and a punch as powerful as Dempsey.

I don't understand why a young and green Dempsey's loss to seasoned professional Flynn are held against him. And Meehan was a crafty veteran who could frustrate and outpoint Dempsey, a loss is a loss, but Dempsey would've defeated Meehan in a 10 round contest I believe.

 

Dempsey wears down Jeffries and stops him late in the fight. Jack too fast and explosive for Jim. The only physical attribute Jeffries matched Dempsey on is pure strength but that won't be enough.

 

Five feet eight and a half ,crude Sharkey gave Jeffries life and death twice.Dempsey is far better defensively than Sharkey , hit harder ,and was faster .
Dempsey was a ground breaker no heavyweight like him had been seen before he came on the scene.
Jeffries relied on his toughness ,his ability to absorb punishment and come on strong when his opponent had shot his bolt.That is not a good plan of battle against Dempsey.Dempsey by tko or dec.

 

Can we get serious here J ? Corbett was totally washed up for the 2nd Jeffries fight,he was a month off of 37 years old and hadn' t fought for 3 years!
His cornerman [Tommy Ryan] was so doubtful of his chances of success he had a pre -arranged signal ,[a palm leaf fan,] with the ref to stop the fight.
Munro was a hyped up journeyman who got his shot on the basis of having floored Jeffries in an exhibition. Who wouldn't look good against that opposition?
I'd take Leon Spinks to beat the both of them!

 

Dempsey had stamina issues and was very much a front runner. He has next to no KO's late. Like only one after 7 rounds and that was a close fight where he was hurt vs Billy Brennan who isn't close in ability to Jeffries. Watch the films and read the press clippings. Several times he took men the distance and they all were not contenders. So picking Dempsey late just does not wash. JD did is work early and has defensive issues and some chin issues on and off film. ( Fripo, Sharkey Brennan, and Tunney and one film to see his flaws ) and off films are Flynn, Meehan, John Lester Johnson, Mikse, and Sudenberg to examine. These are fights where he lost and drew. One could go deeper.

I haven't seen ANY Dempsey picks over Jeffries until the 1940's when he was long forgotten from writers and historians. Certainly not when Dempsey was active. Are there any? I think some in this forum have read or seen what I have. Jeffries has speed, footwork, wrestling ability in the tie ups and great strength. A great uppercut, body puncher and hook. In fact he produced a knock down in all his fights except his lame comeback where he was old, out of the ring for 6 years, and had no warm up fight which for him is unfortunately the only detail of films most have seen.