[yt]dB13_HZD83Y[/yt] Incredible durability Willard ( at age 42, years of rust on him) displays. One of the toughest heavyweights ever.
great footage thanks! willard, in my opinion, was the least skilled heavyweight champion ever but his size and toughness during that era allowed him to be a top heavyweight.
"incredible durability" I don't think there is evidence Floyd Johnson was much of a puncher. Firpo knocked Willard out. I just don't think these fights prove outstanding durability. *Thanks for putting up the films though.
Floyd Johnson was catching Willard with plenty of full-bodied shots. We're talking about a 42 year old fighter, coming back from 4 year layoff and the beating by Dempsey before that. I find it impressive that he endured such a tough comeback fight, under the circumstances. And I can't put it down to skill.
Willard look pretty skillful for a man his size vs Moran, it remind me a lot of how the Kilts fight today. Sure he was not looking like Ali or Holmes, but Jess was never going to look like that any way. For a man his size, and his skill level, and his abliltys, he be a hard test for any one, and a harder test over 15 rounds.
It depends on what one accepts as "incredible" I just find that excessive language for enduring the best shots of Floyd Johnson.
Galt brings up a good point regarding the evolvement of Boxing. When I look at Willard I can't help but think how much better he could've been with more polished skills, most noteably an effective jab that he could've employed to better keep an opponent at bay. More snap in his punches while being thrown from the shoulder instead of waist level would've served him better as well. His style was reminiscent of the old bare knuckle style while it was transitioning to the gloved era. With his size and durability a little tweaking might've made him more of a force in the HW division. He does resemble Vitali in style though which is understandable for a boxer his size. I always felt the same about Max Baer as well. A good snapping jab and a right thrown from the shoulder while keeping his chin tucked in would've served Baer well. Imagine these two with a Holmes style jab and sharp right hand behind it? interesting to say the least.
Well, that's just three fighters out of thousands who were fighting in 1923. Heavyweight division always produces its fair share of cavemen types.
I've always said - and people are starting to admit it - that Lennox Lewis v Vitali Klitschko is one of the most "unskilled" world class heavyweight fights on film, regardless of era. Two big giants swinging for the fences, falling into awkward clinches and stumbling all over the place ..... and yet we know that Lewis and Vitali are good skillful fighters. Heavyweight boxing is just a bit like that, much of the time.