Most likely To Stop Jeffries Before 15?

If we're ongoing to give Jeffries the benefit of the doubt as a sort of turn of the 20th Century Chuvalo plus for the sake of this thread then the answer really is and of them ... Louis and Liston being the best choices ..

 

You do realize that Jeffries didn't really do this right?

It is an idea that emerged much later, from people reading second and third hand accounts.

 

Comparing him to Chuvalo is hardly giving him the benefit of the doubt!

 

LOUIS , precision puncher with a great jab, and fast accurate combos

 

Good question.....dempsey has best chance....Jeffries crouch would hurt louis chance.....other than that ....no one

 

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Is that another turn of the century fighter wearing a thong? I'm only just getting over Billy Miske's G string against Ketchel.

All this skimpy lingerie being worn leads me to believe the rumour that when The Ring first started out, it only featured photos.

 

If that’s the case then I stand corrected and will need to study Jeffries more, I confess I’m no expert.
In my defence there does seem to be a consensus that he mainly relied on his great durability, with the ability to take insane amounts of punishment before taking out a tiring opponent.

 

All them probably would beat him but who knows

 

Reports of the 2nd Fitz fight stated Fitz hit him at will ,when and where he liked.

 

Even if we treat this nugget as being a fair account of the fight, it would not mean that Jeffries was a chin first fighter.

If a fighter gets hit a lot, it sometimes just means that an opponent has found a way to circumvent their defense.

For contrast Fitsimmons obviously had a lot of trouble hitting Jeffries in their first fight, and presumably Jeffries hadn't forgotten how to defend himself between the two fights..

 

OK, I will show you some quotes about Jeffries from contemporary observers, admittedly hand picked to contradict the idea that Jeffries lacked defense. While they do not prove that Jeffries was a defensive genius, they do make it clear that he was not a face first fighter exactly!

“The boilermaker has been practicing defensive tactics more than attack, and believes that he can keep Fitz off. The latter is expected to force the fight from the start. In such an event it is believed that Jeffries will stand away and try to jab his block off.”

New York Sun

“Jeffries is really a clever boxer and knows how to protect himself in a manner that will make Fitz wonder how to reach him with a damaging blow.”

National Police Gazette

“He feints savagely and with startling speed. His feet have improved until now he moves about like a shifty lightweight. His footwork resembles both Corbett’s and Ryan’s. He shifts about continually, is not obliged to set before he hits, and will never be caught flat footed.”

New York Journal

“Jeffries was cautious to the end. There was but one period when he cut loose, but as soon as he found that Fitz was still dangerous he let up. He fought the Cornishman at long range almost entirely, and when the end came he did not rush in to close, but fired the left at Bobs head from a rather distant point”.

New York Sun

“Less than a year ago Jeffries appeared in New York a great awkward ungainly boy. Today he is a lithe active alert trained athlete. The men who prepared him for this fight worked wonders with him. Taught him a nearly perfect defence, instructed him in the methods of inflicting punishment. The transition has been little short of miraculous”.

Ashbury Park Dailey Press

"I never saw a fellow get away so well from a punch or show so much speed on his feet. He was quick as a flash and his light footwork made me guess a great deal. I made desperate leads. I tried every ruse at my command to beat him but it was to no avail.”

Bob Fitzsimmons

 

When Jeffries went on tour with Fitz sparring nightly,Fitz told him . to lose the crouch as it gave away his height.An old Louis had no difficulty spearing Marciano with his jab and, in the 2nd Godoy fight,he ripped Godoy's face to bits
with uppercuts

 

You have the Jeffries book,so you know several next day reports stated Fitz hit him at will.Fitz wasn't trained for the 1st fight,which you also know.

 

Interesting quote from Fitz there and the account of their second fight.
It does appear that his defence improved the further he went.
Maybe I did him a disservice using the term “face first”, lacking a good defence was probably more appropriate. It sounds as though even then it’s something he improved upon.