Jess Willard vs Frans Botha

Botha was better. He was able to hit and hold Tyson, and even post prison Tyson was faster and more accurate than Willard. Willard may well be a live dog, though, because Botha trying to maul with him is probably not the wisest tactic. I'd take Botha on points in a sloppy but gritty affair.

 

How many rounds? I'd be inclined to take Willard for anything over 12.

 

Johnson was stll faster than Willard when they fought too, he also still lost.

Was Botha's losing effort against Tyson really more impressive than Willard beating Johnson?

 

Prime Botha squeaks out a decision over 12, tho he may visit the canvas on the way. Too much skill and variance in his game.

Give Willard some time to acclimate to the modern game and this script may flip.

 

Botha was actually a Pretty underrated fighter imo. kinda similar to John ruiz…….very awkward to fight and a bit of a cutie. he should win on Points.

 

I'll say over a modern day distance Botha wins a decision. If we're talking oldie days ,then I see Willard catching him and stopping him behind on points .

 

Yes. Johnson basically had his way with Willard until he plumb wore out. Botha was beating Tyson until he got caught. Johnson was old and he simply didn't have the fire nor the edge to keep winning at the top. Tyson was degraded from his prime but he was still a very dangerous fighter. Frankly I pick that version of Tyson over the version of Johnson Willard fought without blinking.

Botha is way more skilled than Willard and over anything like a modern distance I think he'd take a points win.

Over longer distances its possible Willard's size and toughness starts to pay dividends and he wins instead. Botha liked to maul inside which is not so good if the opponent is bigger, and likes to do the same, like Willard.

 

Willard easily decisions Botha, who wasn't championship material in his own era and certainly wouldn't be championship material during Willard's era. Botha couldn't beat a shot Mike Tyson (1999) or Shannon Briggs (overrated fighter). Willard would beat Tyson in 1999, who's timing, speed, and mobility was pretty much gone and Shannon Briggs was easily outboxed by Jameel McCline, who wasn't half the fighter Willard was.

 

He didn't. Johnson's attacks were mostly neutralised by Willard. He kept rushing him, but hardly any of his punches were actually landing.

It was a de facto finnish fight, and they both knew the longer it went on the more it'd favour Willard, they both fought accordingly, Johnson being aggressive, while Willard slowly wore him down.

 

JQUOTE="BitPlayerVesti, post: 19529743, member: 117922"]He didn't. Johnson's attacks were mostly neutralised by Willard. He kept rushing him, but hardly any of his punches were actually landing.

It was a de facto finnish fight, and they both knew the longer it went on the more it'd favour Willard, they both fought accordingly, Johnson being aggressive, while Willard slowly wore him down.[/QUOTE]
Once it became obvious that Johnson could not stop big Jess the fight was effectually decided.
Johnson was never going to go 45rds in that humidity and come out a winner.After the 19th rd he was blowing badly. His age, [ thirty seven ],and 7 years of good living had terminally sapped his stamina.

 

Willard's era was shite. Please. Dempsey had yet to take the sport into the major leagues. Farm hands and strong men were able to enter late and take the strap,. Botha was bred and groomed as a fighter, Pride of Witbank, South African Amateur Heavyweight Champ, Transvaal Heavyweight Champ, IBF Heavyweight Champ. It's a matter of class.

 

Once it became obvious that Johnson could not stop big Jess the fight was effectually decided.
Johnson was never going to go 45rds in that humidity and come out a winner.After the 19th rd he was blowing badly. His age, [ thirty seven ],and 7 years of good living had terminally sapped his stamina.[/QUOTE]

There are several round shown prior to round 19, and Willard was even or the better in those rounds. Watch the video.

I'd pick Botha via decision over 12 or 15 though it would be somewhat close. Botha had a good chin and some skills. Willard had limited defense, and limited skills. In fact he lost a few times to lesser men than Botha.