Prime Carnera vs Prime Willard Who wins

I'd bet money on Willard. However lazy he came into the Dempsey fight he had a fighters mentality, more so then Primo anyway.

Primo had just as much heart, but Willard just seems like more of a natural fighter to me, a guy who belongs in the ring more. Alongside being a better fighter who accomplished more, to boot.

 

I think that the Jess Willard of the Jack Johnson fight in 1915,was a much better fighter than Carnera ever was...Willard bided his time in the Havana heat,letting the 37 yearold Johnson expend all his energy...Then in the 26th round hit Johnson with a powerul right cross ko'ing Johnson... Willard started boxing at a late age,and was lazy,but could beat Carnera easily at their best....

 

Carnera would not be able to match jabs with Jess, who had considerably more snap on his punches. Willard could hit, had the better chin and stamina, and the uppercut to perform well inside. Fighting off the ropes, he ducked, blocked and countered Moran effectively. If the ideal temperament was lacking with Jess, the natural physical attributes and abilities certainly were in abundance. He was far more active defensively.

When it came right down to it, Willard could hurt Primo without getting hurt in return.

I would also bet money on Jess to prevail, over ten, 12, 15 rounds or more.

 

Willard packed more power and was a lot more durable.

I would have to credit Carnera as being the better technician of the two and he was also more consistant. Carnera would never have turned up out of shape or taken a world level oponent lightly.

In a shorter fight it is plausible that Carnera would outpoint Willard, especialy if Willard was not agressive in going after his man. A longer fight would tend to lead to a Willard stoppage. It is also conceivable that Willard could close the deal on Carnera in a shorter fight if he pressed the action.

 

Carnera over a more 'modern' distance IMO. I think he can stay out of harms way long enough and maul Willards offence as I don't believe Willard was as all out aggressive as you need to be to get Carnera to find a way out.

But if we go pre-Walker law than I'd say Willard would pace himself, wait for Carnera to be dieing on his legs than blast him with that straight right handn and take him out.

 

Willard by KO ...this would look like Lennox Lewis v.s. Michael Grant ..

 

10 or 12 rounds and I favour Carnera.
15 rounds and it's anybody's fight.
20 or more rounds and Willard should clearly be the favorite.

 

Carnera would not enjoy the overwhelming physical advantages that allowed him to maximize his limited skills in a bout v.s. Willard ... Reach. strength, height will all be neutralized ... a serious Willard would tee off and pulverize him ...

 

Carnera always did well against opponents his own size.

6'8, 260 lb Ray Impellittiere TKO'd in 9 rounds
6'10 224 lb Victorio Campolo KO'd in 2 rounds
6'9, 250 lb Jose Santa TKO'd in 6 rounds

As for Willard, he won a decision over 6'4, 235 lb Carl Morris but didn't fight any other opponents of similar stature.

 

I do not think any of the three you mentioned were remotely in Willard's class ...

Carnera's biggest wins, if they were even legit, were against the 6' Sharkey, the 5'10" Uz and the light heavyweight Loughran ... against all three his size was of primary importance.

 

The same goes for Willard, except he struggled with and lost to light heavyweight-sized Tom McMahon and Gunboat Smith.

 

Impelittiere and Campollo were both ranked in the top 10 by Ring Magazine at one point and they both lost to Carnera, and indeed some smaller fighters that he beat.

This tends to suggest that Carnera did not owe his sucess only to his size.

 

Neither has that impressive a record, but I think Willard tends to be overrated these days and Carnera unfairly dismissed. Carnera might not have been particularly fast compared to the better smaller heavies of history, but I do think he was quite a bit quicker than Willard, and a better boxer. I see him outpointing Willard over 15.

 

This is about how I see it. :good