Jeffries on of the most misunderstood ..

I think Jeff had more than these 20+ fights, just like pthers of his era had more fights. And he had quite a few exibitions which also add to his experience.

I don´t think Jeffries was a big one punch-puncher, he was more of a damaging puncher. Each punch of him would hurt you. I mean, he broke the bones of his oponents quite regularly.

 

I think he struggled with middlweights of neanderthal skills (and old lightheavies with basic skills) and his power is vastly exaggerated. His power was nowhere near that of Cooney or Morrison. I rate him fairly low compared to most.

 

Sharkey was who I referred to as neanderthal. Granted he was slightly larger than a middle.

However, I do not think that Sharkey, old Corbett or old Fitz would be competetive heavies half a century later. Sorry. The fact that Jeffries went life and death with these smaller, by and large more aged, fighters does not speak highly for his supposed abilities. He did fine for his era, the era just wasn't that much.

 

Perhaps you should take a look at my Fitz Appreciation Thread. That is not at all what I think of him.

 

Half a century later takes us up to the early 50s, where ironicaly Jeffries opponents would have been of fairly typical size.

 

Do you really want to consider the result of a Tom Sharkey/Floyd Patterson fight?

 

Between Sharkeys power and Pattersons chin it could be an exciting fight.

 

From what I've seen on film, Sharkey would be a punching bag and totally out of his depth.

I don't give much creed to the contemporary estimation of Sharkey, because by definition those commentators would not have seen Patterson, and few would have even seen Louis.

 

Morrsion was a once in a decade power hitter type with his hook.

I wish I could post Jeffries video hitting the heavy bag. He looks like Sonny Liston, and can jolt or change direction of the bag. A sure indication of power. Even you would be impressed, Seamus.

Jeffries was a very good puncher to the head or body. His style for the most part was not to swing for the fences like Marciano or Frazier often did. Instead Jeffries was more of a patient stalker. Lets not confuse style with substance.

 

In terms of Jeffries power, I get the idea that he did have top end power but did not use it as effectivley as he could have done for finishing fights.

Jeffries was criticised during his title reign for not pressing the fight and being safety first.

There are however clues that some serious power was there. I don't know of any Jeffries oponent who derided his power, and he seems to have hit people on the arm and sent them spining to the floor at times.

 

Look, I'm not trying to deride Jeffries. Of course, legacy-wise and for accomplishments in his time, he is an all-time great. I just think he had certain advantages which were diminished in importance when compared to other era's. I understand he was largely a neophyte with little experience who over-achieved. However, he was still a neophyte.. crude, uncomplex and not overly-endowed with the great equalizer- power.

 

Let us not forget that he presided over an era which included Jack Johnson, Sam McVey, Sam Langford, Jeanette, Smith etc. And while he obviously didnt fight and beat all of these guys, as a general rule, you can generally find someone he fought and beat, who did.

 

I agree with you, however people dress it up, Jeffries major wins were over past prime comebacking inactive men, who were conceding age and a ton of weight.Jeffries is hero worshipped by a few posters ,but objective study ,shows that he feasted on smaller, older, inactive ,fighters,who gave him very stiff arguments,and whom he only overcame after absorbing considerable punishment, eventually overwhelming them by attrition .If a 167lbs, 37 years old man who hadn't had a fight in 2 years, went 11 rds with Foreman ,or Liston,Sonny and George would have been laughed out of the ring.