James J Jeffries Vs?

I’d favour him over the lot, personally doubt Dempsey and Langford hit much harder than Fitz, Choynski and Sharkey did and those guys threw the entire kitchen sink at Jeffries with no real success at stopping him. I don’t think Dempsey would be able to handle Jeff’s body work for very long. Burns would also be demolished but imo would be the easiest fight of the bunch by a country mile.

Johnson had the technique, speed and mobility to give Jeffries fits but it’s also worth mentioning that Jack didn’t have the power to put a dent in Marvin Hart despite basically hitting him at will throughout their contest. Jeffries would need to be aggressive and take one to give one, but I see his aggression and body work paying off by the teen or 20+ round mark. The matchup is also largely dependent on how much stronger prime Jeffries was compared to the Jeffries that Johnson actually fought. Would be the toughest fight for him out of this bunch.

Willard is a bit of a what if to me, because Jeffries never fought anyone that big aside from the mediocre Dunkhorst who wasn’t near Willard’s level. However, a 37 year old Johnson was hitting Jess at will as well who didn’t have any real answer for Jack until he gassed, Jeffries didn’t have that Dempsey-like explosiveness and power and Jess was mighty tough even against a superior puncher in Dempsey so it wouldn’t surprise me if he just outlasted Jeffries across 45 rounds. Jeffries should try the Fitz 2 approach and just wail on Jess since Willard didn’t have the offense to deter him, and see what happens from there.

 

Dempsey destroys him. Always one step ahead, always overwhelming him. Batters his face unmercifully and wins the body punching contest.

Sam would have been 155-160 pounds in that era? I'd take Jeffries.

This is the last year Jeffries would beat Johnson.

Jeffries

A bloody, drawn out affair but I'll go with Willard to edge him with his range and poleax jab.

 

He fought Johnson in 1910, his weight was 227.

 

I appreciate you suggesting matchups for Jeffries with fighters within close proximity to his career and NOT pitting him with Deontay wilder or something absurd like that.
I think He has a chance of beating most of them when at his best. I would not favor him against Jack Dempsey though. Jeffries defense wasn’t the greatest and Jack was too fast and ferocious

 

Oh my bad, not sure what Jeffries weighed in 1906 but in 1904 he weighed 230-235 pounds against Munroe and 228-230 pounds in the 1903 Corbett rematch.

 

Willard would be a close call , but I would take Jeffries for the close win.

He beats Langford and Johnson

Burns will run him close in a 15 round fight but cannot stand with him.

Dempsey and Jeffries would be a fantastic fight but Dempsey at his hungriest outpoints over 15. Jeffries would wear him down if he was anything but 100% and any longer than 15 rounds.

 

Yes, the fought in 1906. Sam was 156 pounds.

 

Yeah Jeffries was both strong and tough . But he’d have no defense for Jacks’s fast two fisted attack