Jeffries vs Wills

Good lord, if old, part-timer Corbett was able to turn Jeffries' face to hamburger employing the some rudimentary boxing, Wills would be serving tartar after 4 rounds, if Jeffries made it that long.

 

I don't think Jeffries can touch anyone mildly resembling an elite HW from Wills era.

 

Until small 5’7” Langford was really old, he twice walked down Wills and knocked him out late. Jeffries was even bigger naturally than Langford (who said he would fight anyone but Jeff, for he would have no chance), and could and did at times employ the same style, walk him down, and get him out late. People forget that Jeff could box too when he wanted as well. Competitive fight, and Jeff might possibly even be behind on points, but he’d get him.

 

Wills was too advanced for Jeffries.

 

Jeffries is a king with 25 rounds. He would have a chance.
But prime Wills is asking alot.

I think he could maybe avoid being knockout out maybe. I wouldn't bet on him winning.
But in 10 bouts with Wills he could win a couple.

 

The fat slow version of Langford was able to walk down Bill Tate, Andre Anderson and George Godfrey. The size of someone like Jeffries meant nothing to Langford. Jeffries couldn't stop Tom Sharkey in 45 rounds of action and these were competitive fights.

Langford was a kid fighting at MW when he said that and Jeffries was the undefeated GOAT of the sport. Langford being scared of the man means nothing in this context. Foreman was scared of Frazier too look how that turned out.

 

Of his time. Hes older than the sport of gloved boxing is. I'm not discounting his place in the first era. Tom Sharkey might have been the best pure boxer of the 19th century, certainly top 2 or 3. But he was a small guy that was nowhere near as dangerous as Langford.

In the first decade of the 20th century Lang was probably the best combination of size and power HW had. Langford obliterated him when weighing 165 pounds. That Bill Lang probably beats Jeffries.

 

Its Sam Langford possibly the GOAT of boxing and Wills did win the H2H. It was the 200 pound fat version of Langford too.


Langford was a teenager fighting at MW when Jeffries retired. In 1910 he was an alternative opponent to Johnson because Langford was a HW title claimant. But any chance Jeffries had against a Jack Johnson he didn't have against Langford because Langford would get him out of there quick even as a MW.

 

1)They weren't good in almost the same era. Langford was 13 years younger than Tom Sharkey. And era to era that is the single biggest jump boxing ever had. Its not just any 10 year jump its that particular one.

2)Sharkey was taller but Langford was Langford. And Langford weighed around 200 pounds for a decent chunk of his career so he did not top out at 185 pounds. Sharkey might have had a 90% KO rate as did Armstrong on the other side of the height spectrum but again look at his era. He let Jeffries survive for 45 rounds. Langford would never let that happen. Neither would the better versions of Schreck or Burns.

3)Lang was a top 5 HW in the 1907-1912 period. But the thing that stands out with him is that era was very small and he was the biggest most dangerous guy. Him Johnson and Kaufman were really the only top HWs north of 6 ft in this era and Langs the only one whose power was noteworthy. Thats why Langfords dominant win over him is such a highlight.

Lang did not have good luck. The Curran loss was a DQ loss in a fight he otherwise would have won and that Lang avenged twice. Curran was not an unknown either he was one of the best fighters in the UK. Lang also blew a lead in a 20 rounder to Lester another loss which he avenged. . Finally he lost a 6 round decision to Kaufman by 1 round. Langs 14 losses also include Tommy Burns twice, Langford, Jack Johnson, McVea,Dave Smith and Jim Barry and he lost to a prime version of that whole group. Jim Barry IMO is the greatest HW ever with a sub .500 record and Dave Smith was an ATG caliber fighter. Tom McMahon beat Lang in his final fight and he wasn't an unknown either with wins including Willard, Morris, Jack Dillon and Kaufman. Every fighter I just named except Curran would beat Jeffries fairly easily IMO.

Lang had an insane SOS its just not appreciated because people don't know as much about the Australian fighters and Lang mostly stayed in Australia and mostly relied on top non Australian fighters coming to fight him. In 1914 when Lang got his final win over "white heavyweight champion" Arthur Pelkey, Pelkey was the 2nd worst opponent Lang had fought since 1907. It was several months after Pelkey had lost said title to Gunboat in 1914.


Among Langs wins Squires, Mike Williams and Cripps were great opponents and Jim Griffin was a pretty good one. Felix was old but he was the best black Australian HW after Peter Jackson. Lang also stopped a very old Bob Fitzsimmons.