How would Jimmy have fared ? I see him beating Johannson,both Spinks bros,Douglas,Bowe,the old Foreman,Moorer and Briggs. Floyd Patterson would be a 'pick em' fight. He would lose to the rest of them. The 1973/74 version of Foreman would find it hard,but he'd prevail.
Jimmy Young was a very good defensive fighter who would give anybody a tough time simple cause he could make them miss a lot,i think someone like Joe Frazier would have the easiest time with him based on his style of always throwing punches,as for Holmes that would be one boring fight with Holmes winning a very close decision.
IMO Jimmy was an anomaly, comparing eras, he would have given all the former HW champs hell (in his short wheel-house of prime mind you) Styles make fights and (dammit) Jimmy simply defies that sterotype. Who knows, he could have taken Louis deep, slipped and slided around Marciano, did a Machen 'thing' with Liston, etc...,etc.. Hard to tell with him tho his fall of 75 thru late 77 resume is certainly something to behold...
I think Young would have surprised many with his showings against most of the linear champions...I think he could have beaten any of the guys who came before Dempsey, with the exception MAYBE of Johnson, he could have beaten any of the champions between Tunney and Louis, he would have troubled Walcott and Charles, though he likely would have lost narrowly to them, Marciano would have gotten him after wearing him down and pulverizing his arms, he may have been too slippery for Patterson, Johansson AND Liston, would have troubled Clay/Ali (either incarnation) would have lost decisively to Frazier, ala Marciano, would have beaten Foreman, San Juan conditions or no, would have been a proud decision loser to Tyson, Holmes would have been painfull for him, as would have been the case with Holyfield and Lewis, who may have stopped him...not bad over all, IMO.
What I find alarming,is the rate of his deterioration between 1977 and 1978. He'd beaten George Foreman,and run Ken Norton extremely close,then less than a year later lost twice to Ossie Ocasio !
It might have been drink and drugs, but to be honest I didn't think he looked amazing or anything against Foreman. Foreman looked awful. Ocasio was a different shape and style altogether. A spoiler like Young. Young is overrated.
I agree that Holyfield and Lewis would have beaten Jimmy,but it's quite feasible that they would've been distance fights. If a faded Tony Tucker could last the distance with Lennox,and a 42 year old Larry Holmes could do the same with Evander,a prime Young would have the smarts and durability to do so.
I can remember him fighting Larry Holmes,then dropping down to Cruiserweight. Jaws was ok,but not big enough for Heavyweight success.
You're probably right about that..and and as to what another poster said about Young not looking that great against Foreman...remember that Young's particular genius was in his negativity...that was his stock in trade..he would have capitalized on Foremans weaknesses at any time of his career and won..and I think he would have made Sonny Liston look very bad, and quite concievably have beaten him...if Marty Marshall could do it..and Eddie Machen could last the disrtance, the much cleverer Young..the master of negativity himself..could have done as good or even better.
Sonny is too good a technician and has too good a jab to lose to Young. Young is the ultimate spoiler but I really can't envision him beating Liston. It might be close, but Liston's going to always win it based on workrate.
There were guys who befuddled Liston..who played with his head, and BEFORE Ali, that is. Marty Marshall, Bert Whitehurst, Eddie Machen and Jimmy McCarter....all spooked Liston, and if you don't think Jimmy Young would have...
