Anthony Joshua - Harry Wills big HW's from different era's who you got?

Firpo wasn't a giant. He was only about an inch or two taller than Dempsey, and his 216 pounds looked flabby. Against Wills he was about 224 and looked even fatter.

Joshua is 6'6 and 245 pounds with no excess fat at all.
The only man in any way comparable in size from the Wills/Dempsey era is big Jess Willard.

 

Wills didn't face Willard. But he did face Firpo and Fulton dominating both. I haven't seen the Fulton fight though.

 

Good point. Fulton was at least giant in terms of height/reach. I believe he was 6'4 or 6'5 with a reach over 82 inches.

 

Yeah we know Wills performed well against the biggest men he fought.

The question is how durable the bigger men today would be.

I've no doubt that Joshua could knock Wills out cold, but could Wills hurt Joshua enough? Hard to say because we've never seen him in real trouble.

I'd imagine his best strategy is to spoil and hammer him to the body but whether he could do that is another matter entirely.

In Joshua we could be talking about the future GOAT. Or we could be talking about someone who gets knocked out by the circus show that is David Haye.

 

I find myself looking at Wills record and thinking he didn't begin to beat Langford until Sam was already 32 years old with 129 fights under his belt.The majority of Wills' wins over Langford are after June1917 when Sam was fighting with diminished vision owing to the Fulton fight.
This plus Sam was conceding 7 inches in height to a natural heavyweight,and often coming into the ring in less than top shape,[his best weight was 175/180lbs],still sterling wins but over a less than prime Langford.
Likewise Harry did not beat Sam McVey until Sam was 31 years old,not ancient by any means ,they had 6 fights McVey won the first 2, Wills 3 & 1, their last was a no contest when neither were trying. and McVey was 36 years old.
Wills had just 3 fights with Joe Jeannette ,the first 2 were draws ,very respectable for a young Wills ,Jeannette was 33,& 34, their last fight in1919 was a win for Harry, but Jeannette was 40 years old.
These added to wins over Fulton, already destroyed in under half a minute by Dempsey and a dominating but lack lustre win over Firpo.[ who Dempsey had taken out in 2 rds flooring him 9 times but being floored himself twice, ] which the more conservative Wills was not. Wills dropped Firpo on the break but was not penalized for it.

For me Harry is a little overated and not just because I am a Dempsey fan.
Wills looks pretty average on the available footage,granted he is past prime,and had probably slowed up but his technique isn't anything special ,and he looks both hittable and predictable imo.If Joshua lands on him,and Ive no reason to think he wouldn't at some point ,I think he would go.

 

Anyone's resume can be picked apart. It I'd unquestionable that his is better than Joshua's right now.

Not sure why being a Dempsey fan would affect one's ratings of Wills. Dempsey is the reason I began posting on Classic Forum all those years ago.

When I see Wills I see Ruiz but a bit better. His style isn't particularly pleasing but more often than not it got the job done.

Joshua has the power to stop him, that's beyond question. The question is whether or not Wills can do something about it. I'd conservatively say no, but for all we know Joshua could do a Leon Spinks and start getting knocked around left right and centre.

 

No doubt it is a better resume, Joshua is a work in progress , but the fact that we are seriously considering this match up says more about Wills than Joshua imo.
I mentioned Dempsey and my liking for him because I'm sure those that are in the opposite camp,Klompton , Seamus, & the idiot Mendoza,[ who obviously can be discounted,]would say I have an agenda towards Harry.I just think his paper record might be flattering him a bit.

Does Wills have more power than Joshua? I would say no.
Does Wills have a better jab than Joshua?
From the little we have to watch of Harry,again I would say no.
Is Wills stronger than Joshua?
Harry was known as a very strong man but there is a likely -hood that Joshua can match him imo.
If it became a mauling brawling fight, Harry's forte, the youngster can probably hold his own
Does Wills have a better chin than Joshua?
We don't know yet, but Wills was sparked by an older Langford,a monster puncher it must be said,and laid out cold by non puncher Uzcudun when an old fighter.
A case can be made either way imo.

 

I see it the opposite. Wills is sealed in stone now and what he's done and achieved can never be changed.

Joshua, as you say is a work in progress. He is the variable and the unknown quantity. If he destroys the division he is a favourite here..If he loses his next ten he isn't.

I wouldnt hold a post prime loss to Uz as an indicator of durability.

 

I don't think I explained myself very well,what I meant was the fact that we are considering the matchup at this stage of Joshua's career indicates that Wills' record has some question marks with it.

 

You explained yourself well, I just disagree. I think it indicates Joshua has question marks, not Wills.

We could debate Joshua vs anyone.

 

I'd pick Joshua to knock Wills and Dempsey out in the same night if I'm being honest, I suspect most would if they had to put their hard earned cash on the bet....