Could any version of John L Sullivan have beaten a prime Jackson?

Most of them lmao, an '82 Sullivan especially

In fact I think prime Sullivan would steamroll the division after him up until Jeffries

 

Peter Jackson's manager Parson Davis, thought that a prime Sullivan would have beaten Jackson, for whatever that is worth.

 

I'd pick Fitz to stop Sullivan

 

I don't think he would beat Fitzsimmons to be honest. Fitz was far more proven fighter than Sully.

 

Before the rule change, no.

 

Which rule change are you referring to R,LPR?

 

Tough question.

Sullivan was undoubtedly more proven on paper, but we don't know how good the best of his era were, while we have an idea in Fitz's case.

Sullivan seems to have been a bigger version of Terry McGovern, while Fitzsimmons was a patient methodical counter puncher.

Sullivan was obviously significantly bigger.

I suspect that if push came to shove, Sullivan would have forced the issue a bit too much!

 

Goddard caused a lot of problems for Jackson, which I don't think bodes well for hime against Sullivan.

I think a prime Sullivan would beat a prime Jackson.