Jeffries power

The question of how hard Jeffries hit divides opinion today as it did in his own time. Some people think that he was a banger in the same order as Sonny Liston while others would put him nearer the middle of the pack relative to other heavyweight champions.

The purpouse of this thread is to pull together all the lines of evidence and see what we end up with.

I personaly lean towards the idea that he was a dynamite puncher and that his failure to put certain fighters away more quickly is down to:

A. His style being much more defensivley orientated than most people think.

B. The fact that he had an atrition based style and did not refine his finishing ability untill later in his career.

 

He never knocked a man out weighing over 200lbs. Johnson laughed at his punches and power is the last thing to go

 

If you wan't to be pedantic about it, then Ruhlin Kennedy and Munroe were all over 200lbs.

That aside, you have provided the starting point.

 

Boxrec has Monroe at 186lbs and Rulin at 200lbs, its not pedantic its what someone has proved, no LHW has a chin as good as say Larry Holmes

 

Boxrec is right about Ruhlin but wrong about Munro.

The local papers have to be regarded as the most direct primary source and they say that Munro weighed 208 lbs.

 

Munroe weighed 186lb vs Jeffries and 190lb vs Maher in 1903. Please provide a source that he weighed higher than 200lb.

 

I always thought James Jeffries punching power is overrated

1. Jack Johnson laughed at Jeffries punches in a humiliating way

2. 165-180lbers lasted many rounds, often went the distance against jeffries giving up a 40-60lb weight advantage

 

The San Francisco Call said that Jeffries weighes 225 and Munro 215.

The Police Gazette said Jeffries 225 and Munroe 212.

The weights were anounced as Jeffries 224.5 and Munroe 208.

I doubt that boxrec would have a more direct primary source than these.

 

So Monroe miraculously bulked up from 190lb against Maher in nov of 1903 to 210lb just 9 months later? Don't buy it, unless he put on 20lb of fat.

 

Arguing about being over 200lbs is a waste of time- Many fighters over 200lbs didn't have good chins- So what's the point?

 

Heavyweights did not have to weigh in for many fights in those days. I know Fitz was notorious for not weighing in. A lot of times the newspapers estimated the weights from appearances or taking the fighter's word for it.

As notes above, Jeff fought a very safety first style. He had Sharkey hurt and down early in their 2nd fight but continued his cautious crouching style and went the distance. Perhaps he was a bit like the reassembled Wlad in that respect, not letting his full arsenal go until his opponent was well softened. He also kept that right in reserve, using it mostly for body work. Thus, he was primarily a left hook guy. I do not think he was an overwhelming, sharp, concussive puncher, but certainly a stout one that did much damage over the rounds.

 

False. Munroe was 210 pounds. He was never stopped prior lasted two rounds. Dunkhorst who fought Jeffries in a 4 round exhibition match was 230+, and lasted but three rounds. Kennedy was well above 200 pounds in most of his matches ( weight not listed vs. Jeffries in 1901 ), and he only lasted 2 with Jeffries.

Some felt Jeffries hit harder than Dempsey. Some said he was the hardest punching of all champions. How hard did he hit? I have seen a rare clip of him re-arranging the sand in a large heavy bag. Jeffries hit hard enough to reverse the momentum of a swinging bag, this is serious power. I wish I had the clip on my PC, as seeing is believing.

 

San Fran papers where there for the weigh in. Munroe was 210 pounds. Below is the photo. Munroe does not look fat to me.

This content is protected