Heavyweight Tournament with a Twist: Quarter Finals (Jeffries/Johnson)

I think that whoever won this bout would be a prety good bet to win the tournament.

This is going to turn into an endurance contest, which both fighters excel at. I voted for Jeffries because he was more durable and had a style well suited to chipping away, but it would not be a confident pick.

 

I tentatively pick Jeffries.

 

I have given this a lot of thought. Under any rules, it is no doubt one of the hardest to pick fights ever, and while I dont subscribe to the ducking theory, it is probably the highest quality never was fight that could have ever been made.

Saying this, it is assumed that Jeffries has the advantage under these rules, but i disagree. Firstly, Jack Johnson has the better defence, this is unarguable. It is often forgotten that Jeffries had hand problems with gloves. what happens without gloves? Jeffries has that Huge chin and was never knocked off his feet, but is this really an advantage in LPR rules? It means Johnson will punish him plenty (win or lose) and i cant see Jeffries taking the tactical knee, he keeps coming straight ahead. And the uppercut countering from Johnson really will hurt jeffries, as Johnson will be able to put everything into it, with less chance of breaking his hand on jeffries. As far as experience goes, you would have to give johnson the edge here also. I am pretty sure that he would have had his share of bareknuckle fights in the old battle royal days.

Jeffries does still have likely strength, stamina and maybe even speed advantages, but Johnson is technically more adept and adapaptable and i think his ability to clinch and defend in close is greatly underestimated. I say Johnson eventually wears down Jeffries and knocks him out some time after the hour mark.

 

A plausible outcome to a very competitive fight, imo.