Prime Lennox Lewis v Corbett,Fitz,Sharkey?

But Corbett was much older and his situation was different. You know it. Jeffries wasn't green, he just improved fight after fight. Mike Tyson wasn't green in 1986 but he improved in 1987.

 

I didn't say he improved, I said it's not that hard to imagine that he could improve.
Jeffries won second Fitz fight, maybe with poor style but he won, that's all that matters. Fitz was amazing fighter, beating him is a huge accomplishment.

 

Nothing you said is against my statement - Jeffries beat amazing fighter. Fitz was good enough to win (and defend once) LHW title after Jeffries fight. He wasn't washed up, I don't think any other HW at that time would beat Fitzsimmons.

 

I will give you some examples of the sort of thing that I mean.

The following quotes are taken from after the second Corbett fight:

“His clumsy leads were absent; his awkward efforts to set himself after missing were a thing of the past. In the year since he beat Bob Fitzsimmons down and out he has added wonderful science to his enormous bulk and unbeatable strength. He could have acquired his knowledge in but one way-from Bob Fitzsimmons, with who he toured the country and boxed almost nightly.”

National Police Gazette

“Jeffries surprised me. I am certain that he was not that quick when he fought Fitzsimmons. His footwork has improved, and his hitting is cleaner. He did not employ the crouch as he did in our previous contest. He is just as strong as he ever was, much cleverer, and in the ring tonight his speed was a revelation. It was my ill fortune to meet him at his best and I have paid the penalty.”

Jim Corbett

“He is so big and strong that one must conclude that it is impossible to find a man who can take his measure. Before last night’s encounter, I thought that a clever strong man could beat him, but when he stepped into the ring and showed as much science as Corbett I was forced to take my hat off to him.”

Tommy Ryan

“Jeffries showed wonderful improvement. He fought better and faster than he did when he fought Bob Fitzsimmons in this city. Jeffries showed grand science and great hitting power. I was not prepared to see Jeffries outbox Corbett. He lost none of his overpowering strength by taking on the newly acquired cleverness and every blow told.”

Ed Graney (referee).

 

I have Corbett's record at 59-0-3 prior to fighting Fitzsimmons. Now some of these fights are short ones with a news decision, but they happened. Don't take McVey's false narrative as fact.

 

HAHA, sarcasm. Let's look at the other side of the coin. Lewis clearly got better after 20 fights. He transformed later in his career.

As Janitor said, Jeffries picked up a lot of skill by the time he meet Corbett. It a pity he didn't press on and fight Hart, that one would have been filmed. You can see Jeffries improvement in the press or by the fighters words. When Jeffries nearly knocked Kennedy out of the ring, Ruhlin who was ringside ( and fighting Jeffries next ) jaw dropped's on Jeffries hand speed. He had improved greatly since their first meeting.

I think Fury's love handles can learn. As for Mcvey, good luck partner.


"The crouching attitude was cast aside and he stood up, advancing quickly, irresistibly upon his opponent. Kennedy landed four hard blows on Jeffries' head in the first round, but the champion did not seem to mind them. He kept coming ail the time and for every blow he received he landed two. His favorite was a right to the body, each time just before they clinched. This seemed propelled as if by the force of a battering ram and looked as though it would go through Kennedy.

The knockout blow was a wonderful one. It was give and take for two minutes of the second round, when for an instant the vulnerable point of Kennedy's chin was exposed. Jeftries saw his opportunity. His left glove hardly traveled three inches when it came in contact with Kennedy's chin. Kennedy was lifted clean off the floor and fell half outside the ropes. He was completely out while the ten seconds were tolled off and had to be assisted to his corner.
Behind the blow was the full weight of Jeffries' body, which gave it its tremendous effectiveness. " 9-21-1901 ( 2 years after he KO'd Fitzsimmons )

***Notes Kennedy was likely 200+ pound for this match ***

 

Given that Jeffries beat him twice cleanly, I don't think this would have made the difference. I just think that Jeffries had wrong style and attributes for Fitz. Maybe younger Robby from mid-1890s would be able to outpoint him in 12 rounds battle, but older Fitz was even more powerful and gained experience over bigger fighters.

I view Fitzsimmons as one of the 10 best fighters ever, but I don't think he would beat peak Jeffries.

 

The point that I am trying to make, is that contemporary observers thought that Jeffries continued to improve, right up to the second Corbett fight.

Of course you are free to disagree with them, but I think that I have established this to be the case.

 

Fitz is a legend. If not for Jeffries, he's pretty much unbeaten from February 1890 late December 1905. Nearly 15 years with many fights in-between. How many fighters can say that?

Fitz was deadly until age 40. After his first loss to Jeffries, he destroyed Sharkey and Ruhlin, to earn a re-match with Jeffries.

Historians any bystanders are very high on him up to the early 1960's.

 

Fitz was still great at age 39. After the loss to Jeffries , he won six fights win a row.

This included a 20 round match vs Gardner, who was fresh off wins over Maher, Hart, and Root. Fitz floored him three times. Then at age 41, he fought O;Brien a very fast man in his prime, and essentially knocked him out!

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To say Fitz was shot pre of post Jeffries just isn't accurate. Inbetween the fights he flattened Sharkey and destroyed Ruhlin. Fitz was like Archie Moore. 36 wasn't old for him, neither was 39. You could argue Fitz was at his peak over the age of 35.