I've actually seen JJW called a throwback, certainly his move of pulling away and turning your back slightly is a trick shared by guys like Georges Carpentier.
Could you explain why, because I really don't see that. I think Burley's stance, atleast against Oakland Billy Smith, and style is closer to guys like Schmeling and even Terry McGovern than Mayweather of newer fighters.
According to everything I've read Dempsey was the first HW to bridge the gap with the bobbing weaving rolling in and out style. So I stand by my choice
Here are some excerpts about John L's style from another thread, courtesy of @janitor https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...nching-power-vs-bob-fitzsimmons.548444/page-3 'Style It is my contention that Sullivan was a Queensbury rules fighter first and foremost with an offensive come forward style. He seems to have been a rushing aggressive fighter who came forward from the opening bell and set a high work-rate. He also seems to have been a scientific offensive fighter who used a low crouch. The closest comparison on film would be somebody like Jack Dempsey or Floyd Patterson. He seems to have been a two fisted fighter for most of his career but he became dependant on his right hand after he broke his left against Patsy Cardiff. He threw wide punches early in his career but later straightened them and made them more compact. "Sullivans style of fighting differed from that of any other pugilist that has entered the ring of late years. He is a rusher, and it is this quality and his tremendous hitting powers that really make him a great pugilist. Beside he is a skilful wrestler and a good infighter, quick to dodge and always on the alert for any opening an opponent may leave." Times Democrat He can strike more heavy blows in ten seconds than any other man in a minute and watches with self possession and calculation. Other boxers begin by sparring but he begins by fighting and he never ceases to fight. Sullivan is fierce relentless tireless as a cataract. He does not waste ten seconds of the three minutes of each round. John Boyle OReiley I have seldom seen a man who advances the truth which is that Sullivan is as clever as any man. His unquestioned ability as being the hardest hitter ever seen has caused overlooking of the fact that his blow is always planted where it will do the most good either on the jaw or jugular. The truth is that Sullivan is a careful scientific fighter. Chicago Herald The essentials of a good fighter are pluck skill endurance and a good head on his shoulders. A man fights with his head almost as much as he does with his fists. He must know where to send his blows so that they will do the most good. He must economise his strength and not score a hit just for the sake of scoring it. I endeavour to hit my man above the heart or under the chin or behind the ear. A man wears out pretty soon if one can keep hammering away at the region of the heart, a blow behind the ear will knock a man out quicker than a hundred on the cheek or any other portion of the face. Learn to strike straight and clean, swinging blows nearly always leave you open for your opponent. It is well to do your leading with the left reserving the right for any good openings. Wherever you hit your man with one hand let the other fist land in the same spot if possible. Always watch your opponent. Just as soon as you see him about to lead shoot your left into his face. The force of him coming towards you will increase the blow considerably. John L Sullivan'
Very good info..much appreciated. Definitely sounds like very aggressive powerful Champion. It's my opinion that he didnt posses Dempseys footwork and bobbing weaving rolling style. I just cant be convinced of it. Being powerful and aggressive doesn't cover all that Dempsey bought to the table.
very true !! I doubt if Sullivan ever had dempseys footwork much less the big and weave...Dempsey had always been recognized as an innovator
Henry Armstrong was so ahead of his time that there hasn’t been another one since — ruled boxing, really, from 119 to 147 pounds all at the same time ... and got a draw fighting for the crown at 160.
"The more things change, the more things stay the same" Every modern fighter has a similar style to those before them, and those before them took inspiration from those before them, despite minor adjustments they'd make. Really, nobody is "ahead of their time", at least in the way of implying superiority. TLDR: Stuff gets dug up, becomes popular, something else becomes popular, the old stuff gets buried, then dug up again... Usually the popularity depends on the rules of boxing at that time. Of course Sullivan's style wouldn't work today, and Deontay Wilder's style wouldn't work in bareknuckle A trend I've noticed today is efficient head movement and control of distance through jabbing with a lack of footwork to conserve stamina, in that sense, Joe Louis and Benny Leonard are both modern-esk.
Any big stars tend to cause a good few imitators too. With the Dempsey roll I think it's notable that a guy like Sharkey started using a more Dempsey style, before moving away from it for a style that worked more for him.
In that they can't seem to stop ****ing things up for themselve? I hadn't thought of that one, but I had thought Saunders' pal Tyson Fury had some similarities too.
