How amny heavyweights could beat the Jess Willard of Havana in a fight to the finish?

I'd pick Joe Louis, Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsey (obviously), Lennox Lewis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, young Wladimir Klitschko, Ike Ibeabuchi, and George Foreman to stop or kill him inside 4 rounds. His defence was wide-open and after he got hit, he just stood there Klitschko-Sanders style - no no tying up, no high guard or covering up.


Jeffries would probably win a war of attrition, Ali and Holmes would have to fight more aggressive than they did normally, but they would literally risk killing him after 15-20 rounds and their stamina was as good as any's. There are many others but these are the big names. Just because a fat, unfocused and 37 years old Johnson with a style not based on throwing combinations, high guard, etc, couldn't do it, doesn't mean others couldn't.

 

There was also a huge difference between Havana and Toledo like four years of near inactivity and age ...

I'd pick Louis and Lewis definately ....

Surprise, maybe not Dempsey ... watch their fight. Dempsey was almost punched out in the third round and Willard actually rallies ... however he suffered so much damage he could not physically go on ... a different Willard could be a much different fight ...

Marciano no way.

Tyson maybe not. If Willard survives like Green, Smith, Tucker and it is quite possible he might have it is a different fight after five rounds ...

This is a very interesting question ...

 

Willard at 245 , had 15 lbs of extra suet around his midriff for the Dempsey fight ,he was fat and complacent ,and undertrained,and yet Dempsey after half killing him in the first was in danger of having punched himself out ,he was arm weary from bombarding the giant, a lesser puncher than Dempsey ,may not inflict enough punishment early on ,and himself succomb late to Jess's right uppercut.Willard was no Benny Leonard,but when fit ,he was very strong and durable and had underated power.

 

To be honest Janitor, I think quite a few.

Willard was big and tough, but his skills left something to be desired. I don't see why any technician could not slowly make mincemeat of him over an extended period. Willard may take the punishment, but would he be good enough to be able to fight back effectively?

 

Willard gets a bum rap but I do think the Johnson win was more to do with Johnson's deterioration that Willard performing like a champ. If I could think of a modern-day equivalent it would be Tyson-Williams (though a lot longer of course).

 

Most greats from any era would massacre Willard. Seriously, though Marciano, Liston and Tyson would chop him down. Smith and Tucker were nought special (espeically the later) but you could still argue they're both a tad above Willard. The Johnson fight isn't a solid basis to judge Willards ability on.

 

Another interesting question would be how do you think that Smith or Tucker would have gone in a 60 rounder against Tyson? I know that the common thinking is that Tyson had run out of steam. But, he seemed to be dominating the fight and i though they were both in worse shape than Tyson at the end of the fight. Still though, Johnson from what i understand, lead Willard comfortably after 15 rounds, so maybe the size and chin would have lead Tyson to get sloppy like Johnson did and eventually run out of puff.

In answer to the original question, it is also interesting. I wonder what the best style of fighter to beat Willard would be. Do you go with a Dempsey style first round attack using a big hitter like Dempsey, Tyson or Baer, and risk him hanging on and finishing stronger. Alternatively, do you go with a Dancing Style like Conn, Gene Tunney, Larry Homes or Muhammed Ali. We know Willard would struggle to land, but that is a long time to run, and running uses energy, there is a very real danger that willard does eventually catch up with these guys. This leaves a big hitting slower but slugging style, like the modern super heavies or George Foreman. Every chance with these guys, but, they do all have questionable stamina and with the allowed clinching and the extreme heat, they could very easily end up getting knocked out. Perhaps a war of attrition with great Stamina guys like Jeffries or Marciano is the tactic. but in all honesty, most of these guys are at a physical disadvantage to Willard. The high work rate of a guy like Frazier might be a style to use, but again, it is a long time and tough conditions to maintain this. You also have to consider the effect of the rule changes and conditions on many more modern fighters.

When i consider everything, if forced to pick one fighter that my life to depended on, i think that i would take the easy road and choose Joe Louis. I think that Willard would be perfectly suited to him, and Joe could not only knock him out (like he did to carnera), but he could outbox him and run if he wanted. The era s were not to dissimilar in rules so i dont think it would harm joe too much. In all honesty, i couldnt see any way that Willard would win.

Another guy, who i think would be very well suited would be a prime John L Sullivan. He would be able to use the Tyson/Dempsey fast start on Willard, but even if it didnt work, he had the proven stamina and heart to win a war of attrition with Jess.

Sonny liston is probably the guy i would think to be the third safest choice. Big hitter, Good Boxer good stamina. I would be a little worried about the late rounds though, if willard started to fight back, and make a real fight about it later.

 

Well, Boilermaker, what about Gentleman Jim Corbett? From what i´ve read he was more of a "dancer" like Tunney or Ali but proved his stamina in fights with more rounds than 15. I think he is a pretty save choice in a fight under the given circumstances.

 

Wait your picking willard to defintley beat marciano?

 

Personally I think Many fighters would beat jess willard. Carnera who wasnt even that good, showed alot more on film than willard.

 

I reckon Tyson would finish Willard long before stamina became an issue, hard to say how Smith and Tucker would fare in a long fight, Tucker was a durable ****er if little else but would eventually be worn down. Smith was a better fighter but as it turned out both basically held on against Tyson in reality.

I think Liston would be my first pick in a fight to the finish. Jefferies and Ali are others.

 

I think in a fight to the finish Willard is a very tough match up for huge bombers who do not start fast. He was exceptionally strong and had a great chin, power and stamina to go with his size. You want a good laugh, comparing him with a third rater like Carnera is both very funny and shows a lack of knowledge ...