Evander Holyfield fighting in the Dempsey era and before?

He'd dominate Willard and Dempsey if they got in the ring with him, which they wouldn't. He'd dominate Langford too. Wills, who knows?

Most HW champs, pre-Louis used the title as a marketing tool rather than fought the best contenders. Like Floyd Mayweather said 'we aren't in the business of seeing who the best fighter is' (paraphrased to suit my theory). Just look at Johnson, Willard, Dempsey, Tunney - they didn't fight the best. Corbett didn't. Jeffries did until he ducked Jack Johnson. It wasn't good business to have a reasonable chance of losing the brand name of 'Heavyweight Champion' when you could milk it for all it's worth without any risk of losing it

Allot is made of the racism, which is endemic to America of this time, but Fulton didn't get his shot either. Racism was just an easy excuse to duck opponents and the ignorant masses simply believed in the prejudices. Langford was a modest guy, he didn't get a shot at Johnson or Willard. Wills I don't know much about as a person but he seems more of modest boxer.

Louis as a black boxer had to face the best of the best white contenders and it could be argued he changed the expectation from a HW Champ. Although to be fair Schmelling/Baer/Carnera/Sharkey all fought the best contenders too, rather than simply 'pimping' their belt out. I think that was part living in the shadow of Jack Dempsey

 

slaughter everyone

 

He´d do incredibly well and rival Langford and Wills for the spot of premier black hw, eventually beeing the clear number one. Also he would pick up more losses than he actually did. He probably would beat his fair share of white contenders as well and in the end force a fight with Dempsey or Tunney. But by then he might very well be to exhausted from his career and blow his shot.

 

langford would get destroyed. holy too big too good

 

langford was greater but just didnt have the size. sam coming in the way he did would be suicide, he would get countered n beat up badly.

 

Yeah, the wars are the reason while I think he wouldl blow his shot. He would need to work s hard to get his shot that he´d be done when he actually gets it. Wills may regain his position at or after this point but leading up to it Holyfield would be the recognized premier black he. Simply because he is better and force himself into a shot similar to Johnson.
If this is the case I wonder how Dempsey would be ranked - he´d have beaten the best black he of his time in a title match, so no more colour line accusations. And where Holy and Wills would end up.

 

Holyfield would do well in era because of his resolve and ability. That type of combination cant be offset by anything. He could box, slug and had a tremendous will to win, and his level of skill would allow him to be successful in any era.

 

I think Holyfield would do well and be percieved as a top heavyweight. Not sure if he'd spend any time at lightweight. Guys back then were about an inch shorter, average, at least so I've read.

Don't know if he'd get a shot at Dempsey or fight Tunney. Nobody ever said Harry Wills wasn't a class guy, and Harry never got his title shot. Tunney may have thrown a challenge Holyfields way if he thought Holyfield was fading, or if Holyfield had a spell of health issues analogous to what he had in the mid-90's. Holyfield vs. a coming up Jack Sharkey would have been interesting.

Holyfield vs Wills, well it's hard to say. Wills was big and well conditioned and liked to use his strength in clinches, so a lot may come down to whether Holyfield was having any health/stamina issues when he meets Wills.

Holyfield vs Dempsey, I think it's a tough fight, and it may come down to how much strength Holyfield has, coming along in that era. He needs to be able to tie up Dempsey; if he's not able to do that and has to war inside that would be very bad; if he's able to tie up Dempsey inside and isn't having health/stamina issues, Evander's chances go way up.

I think Holyfield should be able to outbox Dempsey-era Langford, Jeanette and McVey.

Does anyone thing Holyfield-T. Gibbons c. 1920 has potential? Did Gibbons fight blacks much?

Wonder if Holyfield would have fought Greb or Miske, two guys who would fight black fighters?

 

Holyfield's enormous heart and work ethic would have made him a good fighter in any era. But during a period without the availability of human growth hormone, modern training methods, proper nutrition and the added tendency to fight every several weeks, I don't think he makes it to being the very best. He would be a very different fighter in the early 20th century than the one we saw towards the end of it.

 

He would dominate

 

First and foremost, Langford was smaller than Wills. He didn't get destroyed every time did he?

Also, it seems you think he's some kind of pressure fighter, which he could do, but he was very smart and canny.

Not similar to Qawi at all really other than being short but he hit much harder. I don't see him proving his superiority to Evander, no way, but am not dismissing him on the reasoning you're providing.