What was wrong with Jess Willard and Primo Carnera?

Jan, I’ll flatter you again (others might curse you) you’re one part of the reason I got an interest in classic boxing. I read your posts when I was just a 14-15? year old kid all the time because we had no “classic” boxing books at the public library… I thought you knew everything back then and I still sort of do.

 

I cannot imagine any higher compliment, that one boxing fan could give to another.

I am humbled.

 

No, you've been bored by all our genuflections for over 18 years...(Everybody else, I first arrived here 14 months after he did, and the guy was already a legend.)

 

willard - nothing really, not gonna win gymnastics gold at the olympics but he was fine at what he did. he could add a bit of muscle and be top 10 today.

carnera - a pro wrestler who was too tough and stupid for his own good. the man did develop some skills tbf, i respect the man as much as i will always denigrate his boxing career.

 

Think they looked so off because big men didn’t fight like big men as much then. They didn’t keep people away w a nice jab and footwork. They worked more stood their ground. Didn’t clinch as much as they do today. So they didn’t use size as an advantage as much. Men like Wlad and Lewis were much more adept at all those things.
They were strong and in good shape though which is more than most modern guys. What I’m saying is they fought like men who were 6”0 as opposed to 6”6

 

All true plus he started very late , 27 or so I believe and the talents were never fully developed.

 

No, you're BORED by all this incessant (and perfectly deserved) flattery.

Guys, I first arrived here 14 months after he did, and he was already a legend here. (Did mention at least once being spooked by doing internet research on boxing and discovering he was the primary source of information himself.)

 

Willard's game was all about boxing behind his jab,the Johnson fight was an anomaly,he had to be proactive in that fight to exhaust the older, less prepared man.