i think a 170lb'er with little power, skills from another century, hands at his waist with little head movement gets weighed in quickly by Holyfields power, speed, combinations and ability to take anything JC has to offer, Different times - the sport has moved on too much for the likes of Corbett, Fitz, Jeffries et al to make an impression on modern greats like Holyfield. I would back the likes of Adilson Rodriguez, Pierre Coetzer, Bert Cooper to beat them too
There’s no universe that holy doesn’t win this fight, if they fought 100 times it’d be Evander 100 Corbett 0
Proposed amendment to the original thread: "How many of the men who Holyfield beat in 1987 would have beaten Jim Corbett?"
Jeez. Corbett wears his thong in the ring with Evander after a few weeks' solitude at camp and Holyfield knocks him up in the first round. Apologies to any who have seen, and not laughed at, that 'joke' before. We've got a few new members now, though, so I thought I'd give it another go. It's the Frank Bruno of my jokes. It will have its day, eventually.
How many did he fight in 87? There's your answer. From the (albeit) limited and scrappy footage there is of Corbett, I have yet to see a micro-second's worth in which he looks anything other than utter toilet.
As long as you're consistent and pick Holyfield to obliterate Johnson, Jeffries, and the others from the period following Corbett. Which Holyfield probably would under modern rules.
You do not intend to participate in the typical bias & frequent dishonesty of some who misstate weights, but Corbett weighed between 173-at least 190 throughout his career. Credibility depends upon accuracy-if he never even weighed just 170, & his peak weight was even more, it would like be taking Ali at the start of his career & describing him as a 190er. Actually in a single sense less accurate, because Ali(Clay) weighed only 188 in his 4th fight. I generally agree with your premise, although Corbett may defeat some of the mere contenders. Also Jeffries would have a great chance-fighting while fit in the 220's, with his size & strength & ability to absorb punishment against Holyfield at 190/CW then. Although who would have what chance depends upon the rules. We sometimes forget that modern rules are not objectively "better". And old fashioned rules often favored the tougher character. Not necessarily when rounds ended if guys touched down though, this gave the weaker fighter unearned repreives.