1897 Fitzsimmons vs 1915 Willard: Finish Fight

I think that Bob Fitzsimmons would batter Willard to score a TKO win after a number of rounds.

He would have taken a bit longer than Dempsey but Willard would not have looked any pretier.

 

I'll take the "Good Ol' Boy" Jesse Willard over the bloke Robert Fitzsimmons... BUT! Deep down, Willard was not a seasoned fighter; Fitzsimmons was.. This fight MIGHT look somewhat like the 1987 fight between "Spinks & Cooney." However, I see a different ending happening here with Willard and Fitz.... In 1915, Willard was in his best shape at 230 pounds and focused to do battle.. In 1987, Bob Fitzsimmons was also well-conditioned and fit to do battle.. HOWEVER! This time, size and power rules over skills.... Fitz, at roughly 178 pounds, would NOT be able to man-handle the hulking 230 pound Jess Willard over the course of a 15 round title fight.... I see Fitz doing well early on, but then fading badly as Willard walks him down to score a later round stoppage... Just my guess / opinion.... Peace...

MR.BILL:huh

 

For whatever it is worth contemporary observers would tell you that Willard was not in Fitzsimmons class.

 

Wasn't Willard comfortable at weights of up to 240-250 pounds?

Man was huge.

 

Willard was NOT in Fitz' class.... BUT! In 1915, he was huge and in-shape at 230 pounds.... Sometimes a lumbering cowboy with great size and strength, can overcome a much smaller man's finer skills...

As much as I admire Robert Fitzsimmons as a fighter / blacksmith, I just DO NOT feel he'd pull off a "Spinks-Cooney" or "Holy-Foreman" type scenario against Jess Willard.... BOTH Spinks and Holyfield were right at or very near 208 pounds for their heavyweight fights / victories over their much larger opponents..... Fitz at 178, had a HUGE mountain to climb... Peace...

MR.BILL:bbb

 

I can see where you are coming from.

I will say however that oponents did freaky things when Bob Fitz hit them. Even durable guys who were used to soaking up lots of punishment from big hitters somtimes found their central nervous system failing when Fitz hit them in the right place.

Being durable dosnt mean you will stand up to Fitzsimmons necisarily.

 

Well, Fitz did have a doctor like understanding of the human anatomy right?

Hard to imagine what he could pull off precision wise with those small glove. Must of felt like being stabbed.

Corbett ever say anything regarding how that solar plexus punch felt?

 

Fitz would probably batter him from pillar to post and stop in the 7th or 8th. I think Fitz power is comparable to Dempsey's slightly less but still up there and he is very accurate and a great finisher.

 

I've seen the stills and some very crude footage of "Corbett-Fitz" from 1897. I'd give my left nut to go back in time and see that type of fight live at ringside with a bottle of booze and a cigar goin' on... I've seen the photos, etc... Mostly, the fans were just standing around the ring in an obscure stadium of some kind in the middle of a field watching the fight... I think Corbett was winning the fight, but it was close, and then Fitz landed his sneaky solor-plexis shot in round 14 to knock the breath outta Corbett.... Fitz wins the crown.....

MR.BILL:huh

 

Fitz via KO. Fitz hit harder then Dempsey according to many. And Fitz really whipped big and slower fighters.

 

How many people felt both of their punches?

 

None, but Fitz was never a grind it down type of fighter. He hit his man flush, BAM, the count hit 10.

 

At first, this seems like a mismatch - Fitzsimmons being only 5' 11" and topping out at about 175 lbs, compared to Willards 6 foot 6 height and some 230 pounds. But I see Fitz absolutely destroying Willard. He was highly skilled, had a decent chin, and was a lot quicker than Willard ever was, and had dynamite in his vaunted left. I'd go so far as to say Willard would be lucky to land a glove on Fitz, he was that good.

In 1900, he fought a 260 pounder by the name of Ed Dunkhorst, and knocked him out in two rounds. Willard was not very skilled, save for his right hand and ability to soak up punches, he'd be easy pickings for Fitz.

 

Fitz hitting harder than Dempsey? Yeah, that's bull****.. BUT! I'm sure it is fairy taled to the max.... I like and respect Ol' Bob, but let's not lose sight here of reality.... Bob Fitzsimmons was a great pound-4-pound fighter, but merely an ordinary heavyweight.... At heavyweight, Bob Fitzsimmons does NOT hold up well with the post 1920's heavies, starting with Max Schmeling...

Bob Fitzsimmons could never beat guys prior to 1930 like Jim Jeffries (Proven), Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey or Gene Tunney at heavyweight.... Cheers...

MR.BILL