I just stumbled across this interesting article. I am not sure exactly how many accurate these figures are, and you would think that they would only count solid punches (or power punches as i think they are called nowadays), as opposed to glances, but I found these punchstats very, very interesting. There are also some stats for one of Joe McAuliffe fights there as well. http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1892/VOL_19_NO_26/SL1926012.pdf
Thanks Boilermaker. That article is a treasure trove of information. Final punch stats: Corbett landed 188 to Sullivan's 55. Those looking to give Sullivan a round can focus on the 10th or 13th round, as these are the only rounds where Sullivan out landed Corbett. The article also sheds light on what we have read before. Boxing changed, with a focus on speed, and tactics with Jackson, Corbett, and Fitzsimmons mentioned.
Sure I suppose in a way boxing change, but not to the gap people claim imo. Prime for Prime, I favor Sullivan over Corbett. We still had slow Champions even too this day with Carman, Marciano, and Fullmer which comes to mind first. Reports do say prime Sullivan was pretty fast himself. So I dont think it was a major change if any at all. Louis was fast in his prime, but past prime Louis was pretty slow. The same could be said of Sullivan.
I would pick Corbett via UD if they meet at their best. Sullivan would have a punchers chance, but Corbett was not an easy man to hit cleanly. Even if Sullivan landed a few good ones, Corbett took hard punches from Choynski in a war and from Peter Jackson. As the article states, the tactics and skill of the game changed. Sullivan was from the old school of stand and trade. I do buy into his hand speed in his prime, but the art of hitting without being hit, lateral mobility, jabbing was something he was not familiar with.
I am not so sure. I dont think the change is any different to what has happened today. Before sullivan, there was a change from the Jem Mace days of technical boxing which it was said would never be beaten, then Sullivan, brought back the power game by bigger fighters, then Corbett brought the smaller technical fighter into the game, Jeffries brought the power man back into vogue and so the changes go on, right to the present day. I think that is all the change in styles was meaning. ON one of theother threads here i posted Sullivans record staight from CBZ (without the exhibitions). No one lasted the distance with him, until he broke his arm, and from that point, he didnt have the power to really stop anyone quickly. Presumably it was a combination of age catching up to him and the broken arm. Corbett took 15 rounds to beat the old dilapitated version of him. I can see why some think Corbett would win, but i think there is more evidence of Tunney beating Dempsey than there is of Corbett beating Sullivan. Sullivan was much farther removed from his prime than Dempsey. In fact, i dare say that he was further removed from his prime than Tyson against Lewis and possibly even Tyson against Williams or McBride. I think he has the power to stop Corbett, particularly since we saw later on the problems Corbett had with being stopped and he admitted against John L that every shot he landed hurt. To be honest, can you imagine a prime John L ever not landing a single blow in the first round of a fight. It doesnt really seem possible to me, even allowing for Corbett being much better than most of John Ls opponents.
