Alternate History: It is the year 1906. Canadian boxer, Tommy Burns, has captured the World Heavyweight Championship from Marvin Hart. Instead of waiting until 1910 to return, James J. Jeffries is monetarily persuaded to return from retirement in 1906. The goal is to bring the Heavyweight World Title back to the United States. Tommy Burns is monetarily persuaded to defend his belt against Jeffries. What does the Heavyweight Championship look like from there? Does Jeffries beat Burns? If so, does Jack Johnson ever become Champion of the World? Could Jeffries avoid Johnson and fight Hart instead, by saying Hart beat Johnson already? Or, could Johnson be given his shot and not be able to get past the Jeffries who never ballooned up?
Depends how much a year and a half of drink and ballooning weight affects his already aging body. If he’s anything like the Jeffries of old I’d favour him against Burns and Hart, 50/50 with Johnson though.
