Jack Johnson v Harry Wills ?

What things did Wills do as well as Jack?

 

Against Firpo Wills looks a lot like a bigger Johnson, but not quite so quick. I favor Johnson in a not too dramatic but thoroughly professional encounter.

I mean, that's my guess.

 

I hate to say it and I'm sure I'll get blasted for it but Johnson just doesn't impress me on film. Not trying to be a Dick or anything but I just don't get people's fascination with Johnson. Maybe I'll start a thread about it.

 

I personally can't sit through any of his fights. He seems to do so many things wrong from a technical standpoint. I must b missing something when it comes to Johnson.

 

There is a film of Johnson standing next to Wills in the 1940's, and Wills appears to have been much the bigger man.

I think this fight might be much tougher than many assume for Johnson. Johnson has a great "name" resume, but most were too young or too old or too small. Wills' best wins did come against fighters who were real heavies and closer to their prime when he fought them (Langford, Fulton, Firpo, etc.)

I know I'll be a minority of one, but I think Wills might have taken this one. The Wills on film is about the same age as the Johnson of the Moran and Willard fights.

**Just a question--which Wills' fights did Arcel witness? And how much did he know about boxing at the time? Arcel would still have been a very young man.

 

Wills doesn't impress me on film, but then prime footage doesn't exist of him like it does for Johnson. Johnson possesses better skills, and is faster, Wills has size advantage. Stylistically this fight could both showcase each men's best assets and still be a total stinker of a match. Johnson has the ability to hurt Wills maybe not stop him like Langford but he could sting him. Wills could muscle Johnson around the ring and hammer away at his sides while Johnson creates space to land his uppercut. I see a lot of outside feints and then lunges and quick attacks that quickly end up in a clinch. After 20 rounds I could see Johnson gaining the deciscion but not a fight I would bet on. Wills did dominate the fading era of black dynamite so perhaps he was more advanced than given credit for.

 

"Dempsey"

Hard for me to see what Dempsey has to do with comparing Wills and Johnson. Dempsey also dropped Willard 7 times in the first round while Johnson couldn't drop him in 26 rounds. The bottom line for me is that Wills destroyed Fulton who was probably the best in his prime big man that either man defeated. Wills easy win over Firpo at 35 is certainly as, and I think more impressive, than Johnson's win over Moran.

"Langford . . . best weight 175 lbs"

Which is about 20 lbs more than he weighed when he fought Johnson. Fair enough to criticize Langford for being small, but he was also about the same size as Burns and a much better fighter.

"Winning against Moran and in the lead after 20 rounds with Willard"

Which matches the performance of Gunboat Smith against these two. And, in fairness, Willard knew it was a 45 round fight and might have been pacing himself, pretty much unconcerned about who won a lot of early rounds. This fight was not likely to go the distance.

"Sharkey and Uzcudun"

I think these men were a step up from Willard and Moran. Wills was 37 when he lost to Sharkey. I think it a stretch to assume a 37 year old Johnson would handle the young Sharkey. And a 38 year old Johnson was not in the ring against Uzcudun level fighters.

Bottom line for me--Johnson was the best fighter of his time, but he also got his title shot against Burns while Wills never got a shot. Frankly, had Wills been there at the same age as Johnson was in 1908 against Burns and fought the same title opponents Johnson did, I think he also sweeps through up to Willard. It is difficult to imagine this collection of small men and old men and ordinary men beating him.

 

Frank Moran looks competant on film(Johnson, Willard fights) a decent challenger for his day, however based on resume I would have to place Uzcudun above him. I would also place Sharkey above Willard. I do think Johnson could beat Uzcudon even at the past prime age of 37 that he was for the Willard fight. Sharkey if he brings his "A" game(he was inconsistent) would defeat past prime Jack Johnson and I think would be a tough fight for any version of JJ.