How would Jess Willard have done in the 80's?

I think he'd do alright. He'd probably lose to Spinks, Tubbs, and Tucker, but beat Thomas and Bruno. :conf

 

He could beat any of these guys but in reality he probably gets mixed results.

 

Possibly loses to all of them if he was just time machined forward...
Give him time to adjust to the new rule set and he'd do better, but his style certainly better suited long distance fights.

 

He'd get klaxed

 

I might call the cards differently.

I could see him beating Spinks and loosing to Thomas.

 

The only way Spinks could stop him is with a baseball bat.

Bruno would fail to put Willard away and gas late.

I see Tucker, Tubbs and Thomas as being the tougher matches for him.

 

Becomes a destitute junkie

 

I think that Willard might just be the most under rated heavyweight champion head to head on this forum.

The guy hit as hard as Wlad, had a chin like Vitally, and essentialy had the same big fighter skillset as most of the modern superheavyweights.

Why would you think that any fighter on that list would have an easy time with him?

 

Willard's chin is not totally proven. The only two punchers he fought...Dempsey and Firpo..both knocked him out early. I question big time him having an "iron" chin. I seriously doubt it.

Also, willard in his prime was not that good. He got easily outpointed by journeyman light-heavyweights like tom mcmahon and lost to george yodel and gunboat smith.


Willard does not look good on film. He looks like a tough farm boy to me. The 1980s heavyweights are way to talented and skilled for him. Willard never had to deal with a long powerful left jab in his face. The 1980s may not be in excellent condition, but they don't need to be to go 12-15 rounds. Many of these men witherspoon, tubbs, thomas, tucker all had excellent chins and would not be sparked out by 1 crude willard punch. Most of them would shutout Willard on the cards, some would stop him late. I think Willard might catch a few of the 2nd tier 1980s heavyweights, but the elite heavyweights would outclass him.