John L. Wished He Coulda Fought Jeffries

I hold Sullivan in much higher esteem than Jeffries and think he could have licked him, McVea, Jeanette and Fitzsimmons. He was truly a terror in his prime.

 

Prime for Prime, it would have been some fight I think.

 

I agree i think Sullivan's power would be too much, IMO Sullivan in his prime i think hits harder then some guys that Jeffries fought and if he landed enough he could stop Jeffries.

 

Sully would stop Jefferies, but would come unstuck against tough Brit Fitzsimmons.

 

Certainly a plausible scenario.

Around this time, Sullivan gave a hint about just what a force he had been in his prime, when he demolished Jim McCormick at the age of 47. McCormick was not a world beater, but he had managed a better showing against a prime Gus Ruhlin.

I think that Sullivan would certainly have gone through all Jeffries title challengers.

 

A fighter as famous as John L. was quoted many times in his day and he offered many different insights into the outcome of a bout between himself and Jeffries ... I've read where he favored himself and where he ultimately thought he'd have little luck baed on the advances in ring science between their two eras ... go figure ...

 

The two sparred once in 1900, and Sullivan called Jeffries the fastest big man he ever saw. Never saw a fighter of the time who said Sullivan was better.

If Sullivan thinks Jeffries was never matched with anyone dangerous, he's not being honest. Fitz, Sharkey, and Choynski were dangerous and better than anyone Sullivan beat.

 

Jack Johnson rated Jeffries highly[no2, behind Fitz ] ,he did not think much of Sullivan.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SCE0ypLQHGcC&dat=19290427&printsec=frontpage&hl=en Page 27.

 

There were a fair few, especialy early in Jeffries title reign.

A common criticism of Jeffries was that he was not in Sullivans class as as finisher.

 

From what I have read, Jeffries was rarely as aggressive as John L, and did not possess his one punch ko power.

 

In truth, Sullivan probably had no peer as a puncher until Dempsey or Langford came allong.

 

Neat article, perhaps deserving of its own thread!

Interesting Johnson puts Tunney over Dempsey.

I wonder if personal feeling figured in placing McVey over Jeanette? They're pretty clsoe, though.

Fitzsimmons (who Johnson certainly admired) #1 here, though I think later Johnson preferened Jeffries (as a heavyweight).

 

I can't seem to find the relevant article.