Would you side with Hart's higher punch out put, heart, and solid right hand, or would Willard's superior power, and durability win the day?
Jess would win this at long range just poking out that telephone pole left ,when the Kentuckian got close, Willard would rip him with an uppercut , then claim him in a clinch.
Good point. Hart liked to press things. Its too bad there is no film on Hart. But I have seen Root, and he looks pretty good.
The obvious riposte to my first comment would be that Hart received the decision against a fighter with a fine jab, and great uppercut in Johnson,so why could he not emulate that feat against a less clever ,slower fighter in Willard? I would argue that Johnson was not the finished article against Hart ,he gained around 20lbs of muscle later,and it is doubtful that Hart would be able to boss that Johnson around in the later rounds as he reportedly did in their fight ,when Johnson tired. Willard was not clever, but he was effective, and extremely strong, no way is Hart getting the better of him at close quarters , and since he cannot out jab him ,I don't see how he can win. It's interesting that in the latest Ring, which my partner has just brought back from the newsagents, a review of Pollack's Hart biography states that Marvin hart's autograph is the most sought after and valuable signature of and fighter,valued at between $10,000 and $20,000
Each at their best, I like Willard, who could fight on the retreat pretty well and who likely could have gone the 20 distance with Hart. If Willard is too passive Hart might out-hustle him; but I think Willard fighting at his best should be favored.
