Lewis v Jeffries?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mcvey, Jan 7, 2016.

  1. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Is it your contention that Jeffries was prime in 1910?

    Lewis was kod twice by right hands that could have floored anyone.

    Jeffries best punch was his left hook.
    Men who weighed between 50 & 70lbs less than Lewis went 20 rds with Jeffries. Anyone suggesting putting Choynski Fitz or Corbett ,[as they were when they faced Jeffries ,] in with a prime Lewis would be locked up, for attempted murder.
     
  2. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Some news paper measurements:

    The newspaper tales of the tape tell a different story, though.

    San Francisco Chronicle 7-16-1897, tale of the tape on Jeffries-Ruhlin fight:

    Jeffries 6' 1 1/2" -- 212 lbs --76 1/2" extension

    Ruhlin 6' 2 1/2" -- 198 lbs --79" extension

    The tale of the tape for Jeffries-Choynski in 1897 is similar

    Jeffries 6' 1 1/2" -- 217 lbs

    Choynski 5' 11 1/2" -- 165 lbs

    ^^ Two primary sources.

    Perhaps the most interesting article on Jeffries was written on 5-22-1896 in the San Francisco Chronicle. This article was BEFORE Jeff's fight with Dan Long.

    Excerpts:

    "Muscled like Sandow, with a frame like a youthful Hercules, and quick-footed as a cat, James Jeffries is put forward as a man who will some day be the champion of the world."

    "One has only to see him in training punching the bag or sparring to be willing to believe that he is in the legitimate succession to the wreath that so long adorned the brow of John L Sullivan."

    "Jeffries has fought not a few men, and has won every battle he has had, though some antagonists had nothing better than local reputations at most."

    "Jeffries has bested his opponents in short order. Two rounds, three rounds, five rounds is the history of his fights. He put George Griffin out in eleven seconds. Frank Childs, the 'colored cyclone' of Los Angeles went out in two rounds, and Childs had bested LaBlanche and 'Billy' Smith. It took the young giant the same length of time to put out Joe Cotton."

    Within this article, Jeffries is described as 6' 1" and over 200 lbs.

    This 6 feet listing from box rec is not correct.
     
  3. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    They are NOT primary sources.Ruhlin by the way was a shade under 6'2".
    There is no evidence that Jeffries fought either Griffin or Childs ,if there had been I am confident that Adam would have found it!
     
  4. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No matter how you look at it, weighing under 220 and having at least a 3.5" height disadvantage and an 8" reach disadvantage is pretty hard to overcome, especially if he's used to fighting fighters under 200lbs. That's really all there is to this.
     
  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    And he didn't get this cauliflower ear because he was defensively skilled.
    This content is protected
     
  6. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    But that has to be from wrestling in training camp no?
     
  7. Perry

    Perry Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Jeffries, Johnson etc were all ATG fighters and all great athletes. Degrading their worth all time is a poor practice. Taking their abilities in today's world who is to say how well they would do? These men were used to be hit with 3-4 oz brick like gloves. They would probably laugh at the pillow gloves used today. Can you imagine beasts like Johnson and Jeffries on roids? Today's fighters fighting then also would need to adapt to brick like gloves, large ring size, poorer living standards and NO roids.
     
  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    cauliflower ears are not a sign of bad defensive ability. One hard blow can do it.
    The gloves were smaller, the impact harder, in those days, so ear were getting busted easier.
    I don't know whether the draining of the cauliflower ears was as simple as procedure, or possible or routine, and I doubt those old-timers cared much.
     
  9. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    How are they opinion? :huh They're heights.
     
  10. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Geez, yes they are. The home town paper says so. Did you measure them? LOL.

    Your keep moving the goal posts back. Like I said you shoot first, then aim later. As stated guys near 6'2" tall ( McCall, Mercer, Rhaman ) gave Lewis the most trouble. Lewis by the way by his own admission is close to 6'5", not 6'5" tall

     
  11. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    FFS man it's not about their sizes or their gloves or ring size or toughness. It's about their primitive style of boxing. Pre-1920's guys fought like apes. Grab, hold, waltz around the ring, throw a couple punches per round, no (or very few) jabs, little head movement, stumble-bum footwork from most of them.

    And not all of the bouts were scheduled for 30-40 rounds so you can't use that excuse (they were conserving energy).

    Bring almost any of these guys up today and have them fight the same way and they get beat. Period. Some of them did fight in what we'd call a modern way or had great defensive skills. I'd put Sam Langford and Joe Gans in that category. The others...like Jeffries....or Ketchel....or Burns...would be better off in UFC not boxing.
     
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    This is true, but it still puts him in the size range where he would have a chance, even if he were not a great fighter.
     
  13. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Wait is anyone other than that spastic Mendoza under the misapprehension that Jeffries would even beat a semi decent amateur today? The man couldn't box his way out of a paper bag.

    EDIT it seems like we have a new spazzo in Perry

    Listen anyone in my boxing gym would spank Jeffries, WWs/MWs anyone, maybe even FWs, he's a bum.
     
  14. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Correct. And the gloves back then were brutal. Light, and made of horse hair that often spilt creating cuts and nicks.

    Since McVey is adamant of not allowing Jeffries modern training or nutrition, I wonder if he'd allow Jeffries to use the 1901 gloves?

    Lewis would not! The man worried about Tua's hair.
     
  15. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    LOL, the funny things here are you score cards.