Jess Willard vs. Max Baer, 20 rounds 20 x 20 ring 10 point must scoring Two power hitters with poor jabs, and defense but good chins.
That's actually a tricky one. P4P Baer is more physical than Willard, but Willard has a lot of lb on Baer. They both have, imho, horrible technique in general. Neither is too difficult to hit; I might give some advantage to Willard here, the same as I think Baer may have hit harder. I think a fully motivated, gunpowder - in - the - pants version of Baer (we could call him Tokyo Baer, since he's about as common as the unicorn Tokyo Douglas) would beat Willard at his best. However, in reality, I think Willard would win on points or maybe by late "stuff it I can't anymore" type stoppage. That's because Baer had a lackadaisical approach and part of the reason he wasn't superb was that I think that he fundamentally actually did not care that much about boxing. Willard strikes me as being more serious about the craft and actually trying to win, despite the handicap his late start to boxing gave him. TLDR: Absolute best: Baer > Willard Reality: Willard > Baer.
Baer staggers, drops, batters and finally stops a courageous Willard in 9 (I guess). Not that it would have been totally one sided though,..Wiilards sheer bulk would help make it an awkward affair at times (he would fall awkwardly as Jerry Quarry would say)...and Jess would connect without any difficulty at times on Max's always available mandible,...but hurting Maxie would be an entirely different matter...and then there would be the matter of Baer's clowning, which he would be unable to resist. Baer would be spectacularly explosive at the end IMO...rights of the quality that destroyed Max Schmeling would send big Jess half out of the ring...and the ref would count him out "whilst" he was on his back on the ring apron.
Willard's defense wasn't actually that bad. Sadly he was a giant hitter who a. Had an undeveloped offense and b. Wasn't a naturally violent person. Anyways Baer late stoppage if he really wants it. Wouldn't be surprised to see Willard take a UD though.
I wouldnt call Wiillard a giant hitter good right hand puncher yes ,but no more than that .Why do you see him as such?
Well just for starters right after the Johnson fight he was 20-3-1 with 19KOs. That's a 79% KO ratio. Second I saw what he did to his opponents when his sloppy punches caught flush.
Willard's defense wasn't bad? I must disagree with that point. He was stationary with a low guard. He didn't block or cover up well. His head was a stationary target with little or no movement at all. And he didn't use his feet like he could have. His balance was below average as well. Slow stationary feet + low guard + below average reflexes + the limited understanding of how to block and clinch = perhaps the worst filmed defense of any lineal heavyweight champion. He would fire back when hit, and that's what the other guy had to worry about. I'm not sure how this one would go. Willard had heart, and a good chin. That might be enough for him to take over later int he fight. Baer himself wasn't that hard to hit either. But I do think Baer had better offensive skills and a good chin as well.
Well it wouldn't go the distance, even though Jess was mostly durable. Willard doesn't make it easy for max, and he'd take his hardest shots at times well. But Baer s hard, thumping punches wear his man down. It would take him about 12 rounds or so but eventually Willard folds and goes down.
I'm voting SD / Draw. Which Bear shows up? Something tells me this would be distance fight, with its share of exciting moments between lackluster rounds as both guys would respect each other's power. Baer the better early, Willard the better late.
Safe to say....two tough dudes....willard might outlast even a young in shape baer with good hands...close to even odds i think
