I was just curious if anyone had any thoughts as to how a fight between these two might play out....I am trying to increase my knowledge of both of these guys/eras.... 1 Who would win and how???? 2 Who do you rate ad greater on ATG list and why????
From what I know of both men, I'd give the edge in intangibles to Peter Jackson and I think that is what would win the fight for him. Since both are accustomed to fighting 20 rounds or more, I'd set the limit at 15. Stamina wouldn't be an issue for either. The reason I give the nod to jackson is because of the way Wills lost to Sam Langford. Wills holds the edge in his 14-fight series with Langford but Sam set him up and knocked him cold in their second meeting. Jackson was known to have better defense and it was Wills' defensive deficiencies that got him in trouble against Langford. Also, while he could still see, Sam was going blind at the time they met. I don't think Peter Jackson would have had the same type of problems with Langford. He might lose but not in the way that Wills did. Jackson's defense and ability to anticipate his opponent's next move, would the difference. In three fights, I think Jackson takes at least two and possibly all three. He knocks Wills out at least once.
Very hard to say who would have won, because there are so many unknowns about both. I think that Peter Jackson was the more highly regarded by contemporaries, and he would have been more likely to become champion if he had got a title shot. On the flip side of the coin Harry Wills has the edge in depth of resume, and I get the idea that he was more durable, and perhaps had a less aesthetically pleasing style. It is harder to determine the true strength of Jacksons resume, because records are more fragmentary back then.
