Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey in 1917

It would have been a mismatch in favour of Willard, and he would have been heavily criticised for taking the fight.

 

Really? What was Jack like back in 1917 a, untested young heavy hitting guy? Genuine question s, I'm not up to speed with jack in that time frame. Willard obviously a bit younger and still basking in the title winning glory. He would have been confident no doubt.

 

Interesting premise.Willard would not have been so inactive having defended against Moran in March 1916.
Dempsey would be well short of his peak He was ko'd by Flynn drew with Al Norton lost to Meehan and had two draws with him, all in1917. I believe I would go with Jess by dec .

 

Obviously Willard would have done a lot better than he did in their 1919 bout. Would he have beaten Jack,though ? I'm not sure. Dempsey may have still been a bit raw at this juncture,but he was still miles faster than Willard.

 

Great point. Dempsey's speed is usually overlooked. The Loss to Flynn is questionable, and the Meehan fights were four rounders. It's obvious that Jess was out of shape in 1919, But Jack's speed, shark-like circling, in and out rapid movements and bobbing and weaving would have been style disasters for Jess in 1917, Imo.

 

Willard was better, but that would not even be the critical factor.

The important point is that Dempsey would be somewhere from a regional fighter to a fringe contender, depending what end of the year the fight took place.

He simply wasn’t ready for somebody like Willard yet.

 

Cheers for that. Yep I've looked a little in to dempsey s career at that point in time, he wasn't the rounded fighter he would turn out to be. In regards the willard v demps match I can see jess still having a few scary moments but using his height and experience to shut jack down. I don't see a ko, not with jack s chin but a slightly worn dempsey losing a decision. But willard would not have been happy to have a rematch with the strong youngster.

 

Dempsey was still very quick and hit like a freight train in 1917. Certainly Jack would have no issues hitting the big hwt. Willard walks to Dempsey over confident and gets nailed early. Dempsey by tko in five.

 

I understand the precept, but Jack Dempsey would knock out Jess Willard every day of the week if they fought for a month. Dempsey was all wrong for Jess

 

People forget that Jess could hit a bit himself. A lot harder than Flynn even.

 

Dempsey couldn't beat Al Norton in 1917, I doubt he is koing Willard.

 

Dempsey's career really took off after he took on Doc Kearns as his manager. Kearns kept him busy, developing him into a championship-level contender and installing confidence in his fighter. In Dempsey's autobiography he said, "Doc told me that I was the best figher in the world and I believed him." I would definitely pick Willard over Dempsey in early 1917. By the end of the year, the question becomes more interesting as Dempsey closes the gap, but I think he is still not quite ready for Jess. When they did fight in 1919 there were many who felt that Dempsey was still overmatched. But by then, Dempsey under the guidance of Kearns, had reversed his KO by Flynn and beaten the likes of Gunboat Smith, Carl Morris, and Fred Fulton while Willard remained inactive.

 

I'm surprised as I agree with this thinking, and you claim Dempsey is a favorite of yours.

Willard got the better of Moran on film. In fact, he looks better vs. Moran than Jack Johnson does on film.

Willard is mostly a forgotten man these days. I had a chance to listen to him on the Murray Woroner fantasy radio tournament. Willard was in his 80's for the recording, but he did speak with clarity on of the fighters who were champion before him in the fantasy matchups. Rocky Marciano and others speak too.