I thought about this fight today and I'm not sure who should get the nod here: Pros for Jeffries - Jeffries was durable as hell and he wasn't slow, - Jeffries fought out of crouch, which would reduce the power of Wilder's swings, - Jeffries was used to fight taller fighters, - Jeffries was more adaptable than Wilder, he could fight in more ways, - Jeffries was stronger inside and he was around the same weight as Wilder, - Wilder struggles against inside fighters and Jeffries would be the best he ever fought. Pros for Wilder: - reach and height advantage, - probably more powerful puncher, - Jeffries sometimes kept his left very low, which would give Wilder oppenings, - Wilder is used to fight bigger fighters than Jeffries, - Jeffries never fought someone as tall and as powerful as Wilder. So who would you take and why?
Wilder within a round. Wilder lacked boxing experience starting as 20 year old. Jeffries was a novice with hardly any boxing experience, learning on the job. Jeffries doesn't have the skill to evade the right hand.
Jeffries was used to fighting taller fighters? How many did he face? Corbett an inch and a half taller Ruhlin 2 inches Which other men of class? I've never seen a clip of Jeffries fighting when his left hand isn't down at waist level ,inviting right hands over the top. Wilder is the heavier puncher. Wilder is crap on the inside' Wilder was floored by a body shot from Fury,I doubt Fury hits any harder than Jeffries. Jefferies could be picked apart by jabs.Wilder has never demonstrated any consistency with this weapon. Jeffries stated he had problems with Sharkey's in your face tactics. Wilder fights in spurts,never consistently applying pressure. Wilder is essentially a one trick pony. Wilder has the power edge. Wilder has reach and height ,the speed advantage is debatable. Wilder will have difficulty landing his overhand right on the shorter crouching Jeff. Give Wilder a slow tall fighter with a porous defence like Breazeale,that he can launch and land his long shots on ,and he looks a million dollars. He would not be anywhere near so effective against the shorter Jeffries. Jeffries would have to be stopped , or Wilder resorts to a tentative, jab at range and clinch, bore snore .Jeff wouldn't sample a couple of right hands and settle for a quiet life,like Tua did with Lewis for example. Wilder is often off balance after he misses a big shot,though not a speed merchant Jeffries would probably be able to capitalise on this , by closing the range and landing a hard hook or two to the body I think this fight could go either way. Wilder by tko or dec ,Jeffries by ko If I had to choose, I'd go for Wilder,but with no conviction. More input should be interesting.
Wilder struggled vs. medium level completion, and failed to beat one man below the age of 36 who was ranked in the top ten. He's carry a glass jaw ,and doesn't like / can't take body shots either. Once Jeffries catches up, it's over. Fury isn't a puncher, and had Wilder out of the fight based on one medium level punch.
Jeffries was a novice when he won the title, but he was a well trained and experienced fighter in his last title defenses.
Bob Armstrong for one. Yeah, it could be problem although when you watch full Johnson fight closely, he tried different types of guards. We don't have much from prime Jeffries, but he was known for using variety of styles (classical stance, low crouch ect.). The rest of your post contains some good points. Thanks for reply!
He had a total of 22 fights in an era with no amateur system. He also looks very unrefined in footage. I don't think the low guard, leaning back, single punch potshoting transfers well to the modern era. Especially not against someone as concusive a puncher as Wilder
I think Jeffries gets to him, he puts Wilder on the back-foot and pressures him into submission. Wilder can't fight going backwards or on the inside; I see Jeffries exploiting this by getting past Wilder's inconsistent jab and working the body. Everything I've gathered on Jeffries (which I'll be honest isn't as much as I'd like) points to him being a pretty bad match up for Wilder, with the tools to beat him. Obviously a 1-2 from Wilder could take the fight from Jeffries, there and then. I find both of these guys very overrated.
