Jeffries pre-title run.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010.


Page 1 of 2
  1. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,594
    1,854
    Dec 2, 2006
    Some of us have spent long threads looking at the detail of Jack Johnson's pre championship fights but would it not now be interesting to do the same with Jeffries? To this day his fast rise matches any of the heavyweight champions in its rapidity(Leon?) and ambition.
    But what about the Sharkey, Ruhlin, Choynsky and Armstrong contests?
    Did Jim dominate and impress as he should or does he get a pass on the grounds of greenness?
     
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    #1
  2. guilalah

    guilalah Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,355
    306
    Jul 30, 2004
    Jim did well considering his lack of experience and hand problems.
     
    guilalah, Oct 23, 2010
    guilalah, Oct 23, 2010
    #2
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,819
    47,712
    Mar 21, 2007
    What is most interesting about Jeffries is that he seems to have no schooling. For years I underated him for his tiny W, but that's missing the point in some ways. Jeffries fought only the last part of a modern fighter's career, he leaves out most of the dead weight. Fascinating, really.

    guilalah has hit the nail on the head really, and although i'm sure a lot more (and some of it interesting!) will be said, but that's all that needs to be said. Jeffries doesn't get a pass because of his greatness but because of his greeness. I mean when he fought for the HW title, he was to all intents and purposes, green.
     
    McGrain, Oct 23, 2010
    McGrain, Oct 23, 2010
    #3
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,528
    27,119
    Feb 15, 2006
    Jeffries took a while to win over public opinion, and many people questioned whether he realy was all that in his pre title run. He drew a lot of criticism after the Armstrong fight fopr example.

    In all though his pre title run was magnificent. Virtualy every oponent he faced from his profesional debut was at least a fringe contender. He really didnt have any easy fights and he was thrown to the wolves early on.
     
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    #4
  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,819
    47,712
    Mar 21, 2007


    Do you think there is another fighter who has gone from questionable (And like you say, Jeffries was heavily criticised coming up) to absolutely worshipped in such quick-smart time in terms of ring-contests?
     
    McGrain, Oct 23, 2010
    McGrain, Oct 23, 2010
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,528
    27,119
    Feb 15, 2006
    Here is a breif article I wrote on the subject last year:

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected
     
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    #6
  7. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,528
    27,119
    Feb 15, 2006
    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    This content is protected
     
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    #7
  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,528
    27,119
    Feb 15, 2006
    I was thinking about this in the Johnson Hart thread, and perhaps the closest example is Jack Johnson.
     
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    #8
  9. guilalah

    guilalah Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,355
    306
    Jul 30, 2004
    I sometimes wonder if Fitzsimmon's made Jeffries look a little better than he really was (in 1899). And I say this as a fan of both fighters. But it sounds to me like Fitzsimmons, at that time, was at a loss with how to deal with Jeffries crouch.
    I'm inclined to see Jeffries '99-'00 as sort of
    This content is protected
    (still a lot of unrealized potential).
     
    guilalah, Oct 23, 2010
    guilalah, Oct 23, 2010
    #9
  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,145
    45,436
    Feb 11, 2005
    Marciano was not highly thought-of on his way up, too crude, too short, too stubby. Hell, even when he was champ, many still derided his success as the result of a weak era. Shortly after, he became Paul Bunyan.
     
    Seamus, Oct 23, 2010
    Seamus, Oct 23, 2010
    #10
  11. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,594
    1,854
    Dec 2, 2006
    Janitor, I set this thread up for you! Loads of good informed information. Agree with everything you say, really but two questions, did he beat Armstrong easily and personally I totally discount the Jackson fight to me it's McBride-Tyson or Berbick-Ali, not to take anything away, not Jeffries fault but I've seen recently posters trying to make this a significant win-it wasn't but the Goddard win still had merit.
     
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    #11
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,528
    27,119
    Feb 15, 2006
    Jeffries strugled with Armstrong and was described as having had "only a few shades the better of it". It seems that he broke his thumb though, and it is interesting that he forced the usualy agresive Armstrong to fight defensively.
    This content is protected
    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    I agree with your asesment of the Goddard and Jackson fights. Jackso was an empty shell but Goddard still had a little left. Both were expected to give him more trouble than they did.
     
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    janitor, Oct 23, 2010
    #12
  13. amhlilhaus

    amhlilhaus Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,840
    12
    Mar 24, 2005
    lol at the newspaper criticizing him for not meeting o'donnell.
     
    amhlilhaus, Oct 23, 2010
    amhlilhaus, Oct 23, 2010
    #13
  14. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,594
    1,854
    Dec 2, 2006
    Nice read.
     
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    mattdonnellon, Oct 23, 2010
    #14
  15. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,229
    257
    Oct 22, 2009
    I´m pretty sure Jeffries had mroe fights than the ones we know of.
     
    bodhi, Oct 23, 2010
    bodhi, Oct 23, 2010
    #15
Page 1 of 2