Harry Wills v Tommy Gibbons15rds?

Incredible find, a reporter spouting press release stuff, and you think it's true. what did I tell you about thinking, you're gonna hurt yourself.

Asking a fighter about himself what do you expect him to say, "I am slow as sh it, and like to fight dirty, I like to face old, faded smaller guys that I can beat up."

But all kidding aside, it's sad that Wills thought he had to say that. But since it's an out of context quote, I would like to know why he felt he had to say that.

 

Keep posting tripe destined for the locals as a press release, first Oregon, now Tulsa. Look you have to learn that press release stuff is to sell a fight, reporters tend to follow the partyline, maybe the promoter, slipped him a few bucks, or the promoter bought some ad space, or invited the reporter to lunch and maybe a few drinks. A hint, when you see glowing remarks it's usually meant to be a press release.

 

HEG, you are taking the quote that Wills was a very good journeyman, as an incredible insult. It's not, Arcel, meant it like he said it. He was a very good journeyman. Do you know what is a very good Journeyman? It's a good fighter, good all around but not championship material. Or even simpler, has all the tools but is master of none.

 

Please find out what mysterious aliment Wills suffered that robbed him of all his skills and speed in 1924, cos he showed nothing of this speed and power. Arcel who must've seen him him at this time period said nothing of this and a reporter, unnamed of course, is claiming that Wills was a speedster.

I think Arcel is the better source. But feel free to post more press releases that favor Wills, and ignore the negative reports which were there and of course you bypass those, cos it doesnt fit your agenda.:yep:yep

 

Sigh! OMG, what a find, yessir keep posting, you'll convince us that Wills had the speed of a LW, sooner or later. Who are we to believe our lying eyes, Arcel or y-o-u?

 

"who cares about a sparring match"

I hope this means we won't hear any more about Dempsey sparring Tate or about Dempsey breaking sparring partners' bones.

What Denver Ed Martin's status has to do with the quote eludes me, as this is about how Wills looked in sparring.

I notice how you twist and turn and ascribe motives to put this quote down, but at least this is in writing and we know the man said what he said.

 

"another dirty ending"

To another of your Wills posts?

 

"That quote comes from a guy who actually seen both Dempsey and Wills."

No. The quote actually comes from Roger Kahn, and he does not give a footnote to explain where he got it. He is the one who attributes it to Arcel.

I question whether Arcel would have used a term like "journeyman" to describe a man who was, after all, from every original source, one of the top heavyweights in the world for about a decade.

By the way, I don't see it follows at all that if observers who rate Dempsey the greatest of all time judge he could beat Wills, that reduces Wills to a journeyman. If there were no Dempsey, and everyone actually fought everyone else, who was most likely to emerge as champion in the late teens and early twenties?

I think Wills is by far the best bet. Gibbons was a light-heavy. Greb a big middle. Miske had lost to Norfolk. Norfolk and Fulton were in fact blown away by Wills when they fought him.

 

"it's written by Mencken who saw just about everybody in his time"

What a disappointment. I was excited by H. L. Mencken having snidely commented on boxing.

But this turned out to be Frank Menke! Not as much fun as I think Mencken would have been.

As for his argument, it certainly was the backlash position of Wills going after a Dempsey fight and not allowing himself to be sidetracked by this or that contender in 1925 and 1926.

I think I would agree that in a sense Wills played into the hands of his critics (which might have exactly what Rickard hoped) in turning down a fight with Gibbons.

In fairness to Wills, though, Wills signed an open contract in 1924 with Rickard to fight whomever Rickard chose with the winner to get Dempsey. Rickard chose Firpo. Everyone can second-guess it, but Gibbons had lost to Dempsey also, and I can imagine the putdowns of Wills if he had fought a light-heavyweight rather than the big heavyweight.

 

Very interesting.

I was not surprised by these quotes, as they reflected what I saw in the 1924 fight with Madden.

"Wills, because of his advantage in reach, stabbed Langford with a left jab."

"When in the open Wills was always the better, for he could land on Sam without the fear of a return clean blow because his opponent couldn't reach him."

While Langford was shorter than Gibbons, the actual subject of this thread, I think Gibbons would have had the same problem. Wills would have been able to stab him with long lefts at a distance, and would have been too strong for Gibbons inside.

 

Oh, it is controversial to me.

"Arcel was reputable"

So was Lincoln. But did Arcel actually say exactly what he is quoted as saying? It seems extreme.

 

Fair and balanced