How would Schmeling fare against these fighters? Primo Carnera Tommy Loughran Billy Conn Joe Walcott Harry Wills
Its very hard to tell how good Wills was because we have no footage of prime Wills. Schmeling would be a favourite over the rest.
I could see Billy Conn out boxing him to a decision. Interesting matchup. Despite the skill gap, Schmeling would have to be the favorite because of the size difference and accomplishments at heavyweight though.
Walcott vs Max is the only one that's hard to call, Max beats the rest. The best version of Max beat Joe Louis, Walcott was robbed of a decision over an older Louis... I'd make Joe a sleight favorite but it's a toss up.
Why do you think that Walcott is the favorite against Max? Joe had worse chin and his defense was mostly reflex-based. Schmelimg wouldn't lose battle of counter punchers against someine less durable in my opinion.
His well timed right hand would find the mark over and over again against Primo’s lazy jab. Ud or late stoppage for Max. Loughran’s one two’s would be timed as well and Schmeling would take over after first couple of rounds. Might stop Loughran as well. Billy Conn of the First Louis bout would prove dangerous with his movement and flashy combination punches, but Max would be the decidedly heavier hitter and would just press the action all night. Good fight I lean Max. Max beats Walcott - Max never over pursued which was Walcott’s game. To set traps Max would stay in pocket - throw his punches and fall in. I like Max Max vs Wills. Based on footage we have Max wins. But we really don’t know how good Wills was in prime. Max didn’t do great against Baer and Wills was big like Baer. But Max did rock Baer - and I have feeling Wills chin was never near Baer’s. On his best I Think Max takes them all however as a gauntlet I can’t see Max being good enough to beat them all- he would lose one for sure
Well, I don't think that Schemling against Wills, Conn or Walcott in real scenario would prove much. Of course Loughran and Carnera were his prime contemporaries so you can use real scenario here.
I agree, but they would have been temporally possible. I would make Schmeling a favorite over every fighter on your list prime for prime, but none by an enormous margin, and some such as Walcott by a wafer thin margin. Schmeling Carnera was on the cards when Schmeling was champion.
A shame it didn't happen, I would like to see Schmeling against someone that much bigger who was also quite good.
I suspect that Carnera was not ready, when it was being talked about. He needed a couple more years, to give it his best shot.
I wouldn't bet on Carnera at any point of his career to be honest, but it's true that Max didn't fight a lot of big fighters.
Prime for Prime ..... Wills (probably) would be a 50-50 fight. Conn would be close to 50-50 too, maybe a slight underdog. Those two are the big threats to upset a prime Schmeling. Loughran would pose a real threat too but I suspect Schmeling on his best day would batter him. I would definitely expect prime Schmeling to KO Walcott and Carnera.
Billy Conn in his prime and on his best night has a chance to outbox Max. Wills and Walcott might have been troublesome, but I'd take Max 60-40. I like Schmeling to beat Carnera and Loughran.
