Harry Wills vs the all time greats

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Jan 29, 2011.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Sullivan
    Jeffries
    Johnson
    Dempsey
    Louis
    Marciano
    Liston
    Ali
    Frazier
    Foreman
    Holmes
    Tyson
    Holyfield
    Lewis

    Can he beat anybody?
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2011
    janitor, Jan 29, 2011
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I do guess that he's in the lower half head to head rather than the top half. On the other hand, he did plenty to prove that he belongs in this company.


    I would make him underdog against Jackson, Lewis, Tyson, Holmes, Ali, Liston and Louis.


    I think he might be bad news for Jeffries, Foreman and Marciano.


    The rest, I would have very close, or have gaps in my ability to guess. Sometimes unpicking the finer points is not easy.
     
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2011
    McGrain, Jan 29, 2011
    #2
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Diplomaticaly, you did not mention Dempsey.

    In fact, I forbid further mention of Dempsey because I don't wan't to make this into another Dempsey Wills thread!
     
    janitor, Jan 29, 2011
    janitor, Jan 29, 2011
    #3
  4. timmers612

    timmers612 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Dempsey-Dempsey-Dempsey. Phew, got that off my chest. Sorry Janitor, I felt a little rebellious today>
     
    timmers612, Jan 29, 2011
    timmers612, Jan 29, 2011
    #4
  5. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I really wish there were footage of him closer to his prime.
     
    Seamus, Jan 29, 2011
    Seamus, Jan 29, 2011
    #5
  6. prime

    prime BOX! Writing Champion Full Member

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    Over 15 rounds:

    I like him to outbox Sullivan and think all the other men on your list beat him.
     
    prime, Jan 29, 2011
    prime, Jan 29, 2011
    #6
  7. Bonecrusher

    Bonecrusher Lineal Champion Full Member

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    I would pick him over John L, but not sure I would over anyone else on the list although I think he is in all the fights!!
     
    Bonecrusher, Jan 29, 2011
    Bonecrusher, Jan 29, 2011
    #7
  8. Boucher

    Boucher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'm not sure I can pick him to beat any off the list.
    I think he may be overated a bit because of his wins over Langford,who was giving him around 7/8 inches in height,and unless he was fat ,[which he often was], a lot of poundage too.
     
    Boucher, Jan 29, 2011
    Boucher, Jan 29, 2011
    #8
  9. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Here's what we do know ... Rickard and Kearns, Dempsey's top two advisors, wanted no part of Harry Wills ... they deemed him as too much of a risk for a prime Dempsey even thought Harry would be giving up seven years ...
     
    he grant, Jan 30, 2011
    he grant, Jan 30, 2011
    #9
  10. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    J, I will not use the D word, but why did you omit Jack Sharkey, who licked an older Wills,and when good, was very GOOD ?
     
    burt bienstock, Jan 30, 2011
    burt bienstock, Jan 30, 2011
    #10
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Probably because Sharkey isn't great, inspite of his outboxing both an older Dempsey and an older Wills.
     
    McGrain, Jan 30, 2011
    McGrain, Jan 30, 2011
    #11
  12. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    in my opinion....
    I would pick him over Marciano and Frazier........
    That Wills (1918 ) could beat Marciano, he beat Langford by ko, who was better and more polished than Rocky on the inside game.....
    Against the swarming style I give the edge to Harry, stylistic advantage maybe, because by all accounts Wills had a very good jab....Frazier I´m not sure, because Joe was more fast and had better head movement and more relentless...

    Wills had enough power to stop a green Lewis....maybe

    I think he could beat Sullivan too.....
     
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Jan 30, 2011
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Jan 30, 2011
    #12
  13. D.T

    D.T Guest

    A prime Riddick Bowe could probably beat most Heavyweights of all time.


    Yes, that was off topic.


    I think Wills loses to all assuming all are in their primes.
     
    D.T, Jan 30, 2011
    D.T, Jan 30, 2011
    #13
  14. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think he gets KO'd by Louis,Marciano,Frazier,Liston and Lewis and Tyson If he could outlast a young Foreman he has a chance..has a chance against Johnson and Jeffries but not a favorite. Ali,Holmes,Holyfeild decision him and I am not sure about John L. Sullivan, honestly do not know enough
     
    Bummy Davis, Jan 30, 2011
    Bummy Davis, Jan 30, 2011
    #14
  15. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Truly impossible to know without footage, he could be as average as Ruiz or as good as say Larry Holmes. If we didn't have any Ruiz footage he looks pretty good on paper - Holyfield, Rahman, Valuev (nearly winning), Golota, Kirk Johnson
     
    PowerPuncher, Jan 30, 2011
    PowerPuncher, Jan 30, 2011
    #15
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