A defence of Jess Willard

Perfect response.

 

Perhaps in todays 12 round rules, but give Jess a 45 round bout with the gloves and rules of his day, and I favor Jess almost every time.

 

Langford, Mcvey, Joe J, Fulton, Gunboat... NONE of those guys would've beaten Johnson over a 15 or 20 round affair in my view. He had their number, and this couldn't be made any more clear considering their fights...

 

Not the prime version of Johnson. But the ****, old inactive version i'd favour each over.

 

You put ALL those guys in Jess's place and make the bout 15 rounds.. none beat him, and I really don't see how you can think otherwise buddy. He had their number, each and every one of them, and easily. You don't make up that kinda of dominance just because Johnson is older.. Sam was also not prime them either, and he has the best chance to win. The rest, while more seasoned... were they really THAT much better to make up the clear difference in skill Johnson showed over them? IMO no.

 

To expand on this.. when Johnson wanted somebody out of there.. they were put out of there.. period. He didn't do it a lot, but when it did, he made it happen. Sure, he was older and not his prime physical self.. but I'm sure he still had most of his power left. He threw everything but the kitchen sink at Jess and he was never in any danger of being stopped. You put Langford, Sam or Joe J against THAT willard.. do you honestly believe they take him out... I don't.

 

We'll never know, all we do know is that version lost to Willard and our fundamentally different view of Willard leave us at an impasse.

 

Over 10 rounds he might spoil his way to victory but the longer the fight the greater chance of them catching up.

In a 45 round fight I'd expect Johnson to lose to any of those listed.

 

I think it's pretty close to the second worse win, maybe L Spinks or Briggs come close although I think Briggs has a better second win

 

I sort of agree with Janitor to an extent here (for once in a blue moon)

Johnson was out of shape and old, but he got more tired fighting a very durable big man, Langford/Jeanette/McVey probably don't tire him in the same way, especially in 1915 as they were fading then. A 1915 Wills would batter him though

 

Don't talk **** about Matias Vidondo.

 

Well that's you ain't it. Willard isn't going to 'outlast' either Klitschko because he won't be able to take what they dish out. If a 180lbs man could do what he did in the space of 9 minutes what do you think either Klitschko would do over the course of a fight? Johnson if he had a bit more bite in his punch probably could've KO'd Willard and I'd wager that both Klits hit alot harder than Johnson specially Wlad.

Willard never stepped foot in the ring with an opponent the quality of either Klit (don't say that Johnson is on par) nor has he faced someone who was as skilled as they are, bigger in size and with that hard of a punch. Both Klits would get the job done within 9 rounds.

 

I think it is so common, particularly when the old fighter is beaten by decisive knockout, it nearly always takes a great fighter to do that. Looking through history:

It took a great like Jim Corbett to beat John L
It took Rocky Marciano to KO Joe Louis
It took Larry Holmes to KO Ali.
It took Johnson to beat Jeffries

Think about it, solid contenders could rarely do the job. Consider that McCormick fought the Shell of John L and was knocked out. Before Mariciano, Louis beat a string of top contenders. Berbick was a top contender but couldnt stop a shell of Ali. A very good fighter in Sharkey could not stop Jeffries. Old Fitzsimmons lost to Jeffries but top contenders O Brien and Gardner struggled to repeat the effort in their first fight after Jeffries. It took an Ali to beat liston, most other good figthers tried to beat an old Liston couldnt do the same thing.

Is it a coincidence that the Shell of Peter Jackson was beaten by Jeffries? Dont be surprised if he found a way to win or last the distance had he fought anyone else. Johnson was very old and nothing like he used to be but it was a special win, none theless. I am not saying Langford, Mcvey and Jeanette couldnt repeat it, but dont be surprised if they didnt If given the chance.

 

Can anybody actually see Lanford, Sam or Joe J ACTUALLY beating THAT version of Williard that fought Johnson and getting him out of there? I don't.