yeah, it would be a huge adjustment for Larry. It's clearly different than a full jump to MMA. But look how much Boxers struggle when taken out of their element. Boxing in Jeffires era was real fighting. If Kimbo Slice can take out ay Mercer without breaking a sweat it's hard to rule out Jeffries here. Jeffries basically became champion because by virtue of his strength and fortitude. I am not comfortable picking a winner, as much as I respect how skilled Holmes was and the athelticism and fitness he maintained for a man so large. Most of that might be lost in translation.
The reports outline how Fitzsimmons was literally beating the crap out of him prior to Jeff coming on strong
yup, and Larry, while not a bomber like Fitz, with all his additional size, should be an even greater threat. But how is he going to respond to his new environment? If Fitz were only a couple years younger he would have stopped Jeffries.
A really good posting but for suggesting Larry would break his hands, training now is with bag gloves not very different then the gloves of the early 1900's and the hundreds of rounds Larry and others now hit full with them on heavy, double end, and speed bags accustoms how to land with them, it wouldn't be a problem for his hands. The only fighter I knew in over twenty years in the game who broke a hand punching was due to how very hard he hit, too much for the bones in both his hands, Larry wouldn't have had that issue or a problem.
Reports stated if he had not been 12 years the senior man ,and 40plus lbs lighter he would have done so.Holmes would be prime and bigger than Jeffries.It all hinges on, can Larry adapt to the style and rule set of the day?
Sorry, but why do you do that? Holmes wasn't bigger than Jeffries... Jeffries weighed 219 lbs against Fitzsimmons. Holmes didn't weigh as much until 1983 when he was clearly past his best. The biggest he ever was before the comeback is 223 lbs, Jeffries topped it twice before the comeback. 1899-04 Jeffries weighed 206-240 lbs. 1978-83 Holmes weighed 210-223 lbs. Holmes wasn't bigger than Jeffries.
Confining ourselves to their championship reigning weights. Holmes was as follows 209 Norton 215 214 215 210 213 211 214 211 215 213 213 213 218 221 213 223 219 222 224 222 222 Spinks 1 Holmes was also 3 inches taller, and had 5 inches of reach on Jeffries. Jeffries was 206 in his title winning fight with Fitz.Holmes never scaled that low in a title bout. 215 for Sharkey 218 for Corbett 1 219 for Fitz 2 220 for Corbett 2 219 for Munroe though he did not formally weigh in. So he was never over 220 in his reign, in title defences If ,in an effort to bump up his figures you want to include Finnegan,though it was not a recognized title defence you are out of luck because neither man weighed in. I realise you are, "the keeper of the flame" as far as Jeffries is concerned though the OP of this thread may give you a run for your money.However you are just plain wrong on this one and I haven't needed to include Holmes 2nd career to boost my point.
Have you never wrestled. Boxers don't usually do well when exposed to Wrestling. It's very difficult. It requires a whole different level of physical and mental ability. Holmes would do well to train, but we really don't know how he'd respond to it. It brings too many variables into the scenario. Then you could propose Jeffries gets a modern trainer like Gil Clancy, and all the chemicals Holmes had access too.
Holmes had more lean muscle mass. Jeffires was clearly more bulked up. Different training methods for different styles of fighting.
Actually, wait, didn't Holmes wrestle in high school? He may actually be a pretty good pick for this, although he still would lack the finer points.
Did he? Easton would have had the potential to be a great place for Holmes to learn to wrestle. If he had wrestling experience I strongly favor him.
Except one is 3 inches taller with 5 inches more reach, and weighed several pounds more in some title fights.
Height and reach don't make you a bigger guy on their own, or Hearns would be bigger than Tyson. Holmes and Jeffries are in the same weight range throughout the figures you cited. Where Holmes has a longer reach and more height, boxers in Jeffries's time were doing funky stuff like dehydrating themselves and trying to drain down to the minimum. Jeffries also seems a little leaner than Holmes's pear - shaped body. But these are minor details either way. They weighed basically the same, with a few pounds difference either way depending on what fights you take them from.
