Could Sam Langford or Harry Wills have beaten Jess Willard for the World Heavyweight Title?

Just curious: have you seen any indication that those jabs weren’t considered scoring blows?

 

I get that part. He was also very active and should have shown more vs. the limited Madden and Fripo but didn't. Wills fought and kept winning at 34,35, 36 and 37. Thats what I'm trying to say. Not at his best, but somewhere close in-between and the footage was disappointing. Power is usually the last thing to go. He didn't have it at age 34-35 as an active fighter.

 

At this point he knew he had no shot at the title. He lost his interest and fought only for money. He didn't look spectacular in these fights, but he handled Firpo with ease.

 

None.

 

He never had a shot at the title. He should have KO'd Firpo and Madden. He was in shape, a little older but obviously not shot because he was winning yet the KO's disappeared. That is my point. He was trying to win in the ring. Yes, he handled Firpo with ease but the press referred to him as a sloppy wrestler. Far form a world class fighter. If he had good technique years ago the was gone, and I suspect he didn't. Speed? Not in these filmed fights.

 

Yes, but he didn't know that when he was younger.

Why? Why do you keep talking like winning by clear decision is a bad thing for a boxer? It doesn't make any sense.

He wasn't in top shape, he was 6 years older than at his peak and he wasn't motivated anymore. He did as little as possible to win the fight, like Jack Johnson later in his career.

Firpo was dangerous, powerful man and Wills made him look foolish and won comfortably without taking any risks. It wasn't pretty but he did his job. I'd say he won his Firpo fight easier than Dempsey did.

He was a mauler, so what? If it worked, then it worked.
I don't find him slow at all and he was old at this point, way past his prime.

 

If Wills had power and skills he shoould have stopped these guys, especially with the no defese they showed that why. Note I say anying about his speed, but I did say he was an active fighter. Accpt the facts.

Firpo lasted two rounds and was floored seven times by Dempsey. Let's not make him out to be super man. Wills was a mauler and wrestler, he did not show technqiue that is what he had. He wasn't in his bet shape but he was far form shot.

Willis to me lacked gut for tough matches.Tunney offer him a fight, did you know that? Fact, he declined. Gofrey manager tried to make a fight with Wills 5-6 times. He sat on his #1 ranking and passed on all his offers.

 

Either Langford or Wills would have stopped Willard. Jess was a part-time boxer, slow and ponderous, not fond of training and who could be made to fold.

Now, if it were a rodeo, Jess would clean the floor with either.