Does Jeffries belong in the top 30 of all time?

Do you have any info on Jefferies wrestling accomplishments? Did he compete in any tournaments or something along those lines?

 

In terms of mental toughness Foreman, Liston, tyson and Tua were children next to Jeffries.

The guy won a fight with a dislocated elbow.

 

Of course he does. I have him just outside my Top 10 (at #11 or so)

 

Originally Posted by McGrain
Jim? Of course! I have him in the top ten. Was there a tougher man in possesion of the heavyweight title? Ever?

 

He had several exhibitions in which he did quite well against Ernest Roeber, who was the European champion in Greco-Roman wrestling at the time. Also trained with Farmer Burns in catch wrestling, and was doing exhibitions with the latter as late as 1910. Burns considered him to be quite good.

No formal credentials (there really weren't any in those days, to be fair), but he certainly mixed with some of the best wrestlers of his day.

 

yes.

 

Damn, I was hoping there would be some sort of AAU records or something, but yea, its pretty clear he was a very legit Greco guy.

 

I agree with this

 

tyson was in no way, shape or form tougher than jeffries. he took a whipping on occasion, but he was a quitter later in his career.

jeffries is well known for toughness, joe choynski hit him so hard with a uppercut his teeth wedged into his upper lip, the corner cut it loose with a knife. bob fitzsimmons, one of the hardest punchers ever, with little itty-bitty gloves, equivalent to modern mma gloves reinforced them with plaster of paris, and one punch sheared a slice of skin back, causing a torrent of blood to flow, jeffries came back to ko bob.

 

Why not, He was the greatest fighter that lived until dempsey entered the scene, in his prime he was beating the hell out of all the best fighters around, during his brief career he was unstoppable and very well rounded, big, athletic, intimidated his opposition, great left hook, one hit knock out power, incredible stamina and a steel chin to boot. His only loss was to another legendary fighter after 6 years of retiremet and inactivity and having to shed 100lbs of fat. I' sure many would disagree with me on this but I think prime for prime he would have beaten jack johnson. More of a Brutish brawler than a graceful prizefigher.

 

I think you identify the top Champions & #1 Contenders of a total 30 (if needed) various eras, and rank them...giving the Champions a little more credit for actually being champ.

Jeffries would probably fill in somewhere late in those total 30 fighters.

 

He was unbeatable in his prime because to here no good prime 185+ lb fighters except the young black fighters he refused to fight....he was the clone of Sonny Liston beating up little, old, retired or drunk undersized white fighters Ruhlin was one in the few defenses he had of someone within 25 lbs and he wasn't very good for a heavy Fitz nearly killed him at 160+ lbs.

 

Apart from Jack Johnson, who had relatively little overlap with him, who exactly were these young black fighters who he should have been facing?

 

Yes.