Joe Louis v Billy Conn 1 had been scheduled for 12 rds? Jack Dempsey had met the Willard of the Jack Johnson fight? Rocky Marciano had met Jersey Joe Walcott over 12 rds in their 1st fight? The Jack Johnson v Jess Willard fight had been over the 20rds distance? Would any of the results have been different?
Good question s McVey! I'll have a go . Over 12 i m sure Joe try s to take out Billy when he's behind .But fails and loses by decision . Jack still stop's Willard but it takes him at least 8 or 9 round s to do so . Marciano tries to get Walcott but like Louis with Conn ,he comes up short . Johnson gets the decision over Willard over 20 ,I'm pretty sure .
Billy Conn would have been Heavyweight Champion and probably gotten killed in the rematch a couple of months later. Dempsey knocks out Willard the same way. Jack Johnson would have won and been stuck in Cuba
The referee of the Johnson fight said if he had to render a decision after 20 rounds he would without doubt have given it to Johnson. I agree with your responses.
I think Jess might have gone a few rounds more against Dempsey ,but the end result would have been the same.
I wonder McVey ,if that had been the out comeand Johnson kept his title ,who he'd have faced next and the out come of that ? We know Jack was knocking on and hardly keeping to a healthy life style. So probably a matter of time before he lost .And who Dempsey would have faced as champion down the line .It brings up a few question s for sure .
Conn would've won, then Louis the rematch with him becoming the first 2 time HW champ Dempsey still pummells Willard Jack Wins, retired then the two top contenders Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills fight for the vacant title and make their first Defence against the same Willard I think Dempsey wins on points against Wills
I think Jack was ripe for the taking ,and particularly in a long fight.The odds were stacked against him in Havana45rds in April. Mendozy will tell people it s not hot there then. I was there in April a year ago, I had to shower and change 3 times a day, its extremely humid , and I was only walking about drink Mojitos, Dacquiris ,and bottles of Crystal beer.
Louis and Marciano, both knowing they have 1 round left, come out strong and knock Conn/Walcott out in the 12th. The knockouts would be uglier and harder to make though. Dempsey, instead of being robbed from a 1 round KO (the bell rang early), he'd stop Willard within 3. It'd be one sided with 1 knockdown in the 1st round, 4 knockdowns in the 2nd, and the finale in the 3rd. Johnson would've beaten Willard by UD. Might have to get off the canvas from a desperate Willard though. Johnson later gets knocked out by Dempsey
Louis had been trying to ko Conn for several rounds he knew he was behind he didnt leave it to the 13 th round to make his move Conn ****ed up by trying to ko Joe!Thereby giving Louis his opportunity. Marciano could not have come out any stronger for the 12 than he had for the 11th! Watch the fight! The bell for the Willard fight didn't ring at all ! After a marching display of Anthony Drex Biddles troops the canvas had to be changed and it inadvertedly was wrapped over the bell! After punching the **** out of giant Jess Dempsey was pretty arm weary after the first 2 rounds and a Willard who ifwas in the shape he had been in Havana would be.---- 1. 4 years younger, 2.15 pounds lighter.3,In general in a lot better shape to withstand the punishment.
A great champion like Louis or Marciano can always pull something out in the final round. Not to mention, by that logic, Conn would try to KO Louis in the 12th. I think Marciano would know he needs a knockout and come out even stronger. I watched the fight lol Dempsey blew his entire load on the first round, that's why (not to mention the 100° heat). If Dempsey only knocks him down once in the first round, and later on in the round, he'd probably have more in the tank later on
You buy the 100-degree myth. Check the weather archives in Havana in April for a clue. Had the fight been 20 rounds, Williard's tactics change. If you want to score the rounds, I'll do it with you. The film shows a close fight. A better what if is had Johnson actually fought the best from 1909-1914. We might have had as many as 3 new lineal champions, and Johnson could have been the first man to win back his title.
Trouble is, I think both knew in that case that the longer it went, the less chance Johnson had of winning, and fought accordingly. I think Willard would have fought a different fight for the shorter distance. For Conn I think Louis probably wins, didn't Conn start fighting more aggressively because he was worried about being robbed? I think Walcott probably would have beaten ROcky had it been 12 rounds, but with not much confidence. As for Dempsey Vs a prime Willard, I don't think the result changes, but it wouldn't be the absurdly one sided beating we still know, though probably still not especially competitive.
Gotta agree Louis probably loses the fight they actually had if Conn had stuck to his game plan, and don't get reckless . Conn had Louis flummoxed , trying to find answers to Conns movement. In a 12rd fight, gotta think Conn would've whipped Louis that 1st fight Convincingly. Same with Walcott vs Marciano, 12 rd fight Walcott wins. But I'm less convinced than the Louis vs Conn fight. Reason being Marciano's great strength and endurance. Marciano knowing it's a 12 rd fight pushes harder earlier. And probably lands the Susie Q earlier stopping Walcott between the 10th, 12rd.
