If Jeffries had not retired ?

i don't think he would have ever beaten johnson.

 

If Jeffries not retired, who really at the time could have beaten him anyways? The HW scene was more depleted than the 1980's was. He could have easily made 5 more defenses, the Jem Roche's, Marvin Hart's, Jack Root's, Bill Lang's, Tommy Burns of the world wouldnt have stood a chance. Sam Langford wanted no part of Jeffries. Outside of Jeanette, McVey, Johnson and possibly Denver Ed Martin---I dont think any HW at the time would have stood a chance at beating Jeffries.

You got to remember this wasnt a prime Johnson. While its true Johnson was making waves across the division, he had not yet fought Hart at the time---and was laying out challenges to Jeffries. IMO, in a 45 round fight, prime Johnson or no prime Johnson, wouldnt have been able to knock out Jeffries. If Johnson was to win it would be by decision. However, I dont think Johnson would have lasted 45 rounds. Jeffries could be chopped up, out pointed for 20 rounds, and come back to knock you out.

If the inactive Jeffries could last almost 15 rounds with a prime Johnson, after losing 110 pounds and not fought in 6 years---have dozen cuts on his face, broken ribs, torn lips, and still go 15 with Johnson---there's no question in my mind that a prime Jeffries would have ****ed prime Johnson's world all to hell.

 

And yes, if he beaten those three men, I'd not only have him in the top 3 but possibly as #1. IMO, if the rules of boxing never changed, and 45 rounds was the scheduled championship length, I dont think any HW including Johnson and Ali, could have beaten him. Not Marciano, not Dempsey, nobody would have beaten Jim Jeffries.

 

"i don't think he would have ever beaten johnson. "

I'm not so sure about that. Fitzsimmons, who fought both men felt Jeffries would have easily defeated Johnson if they had fought in 1905.

 

He was rated #2 in the 1960's by RING magazine. Had he beaten Burns, Johnson and Hart, I think he probably would have been #1 by RING magazine easily. Today? He'd be #3 right behind Louis and Ali.

 

I tend to agree with this assessment but am not totally convinced.. Johnson was far from consistent. If you get the Johnson from the Hart fight, or one of his many fights where "I was hungover","I didn't train", "We had a gentlemen's agreement" or any of his parade of excuse, Jeffries rolls over him. If you get a more motivated Johnson, there are some problems in the skill differential. Think about what a stale Corbett was able to accomplish against Jeffries. Plus, I think Jeffries power is over-rated because he scores well with the eye-test. I don't think he KO's Johnson unless he is able to wear him down significantly first.

 

I don't think that his next oponents wuld have been Hart, Burns and Johnson in that order.

Hart might have been up next but I don't know about Burns or Johnson.

 

Ae people still repeating the blatant lie that Jeffries lost 110lbs He lost 30 at most from the pictures of him around that time clearly show he never went over 260

Jeffries got schooled and was toyed with and always would have been. Thats why he retired in the first place after all

 

He could be w/out those fights. A lot of oldtimers thought he was. And if the fights were by his time rules, 25-45 rds, he may win over everyone.:rasta