He does look hittable, I think he was hittable - but I don't think he got hit without landing a better punch but once in all that footage.
The Black Panther is an accurate moniker for describing Harry's style. Excellent that the limited footage shows the most critical moment of Wills-Firpo, the second round knockdown of Luis by Harry's long right. [Credit Firpo for immediately firing back his own albeit easily ducked right upon resumption of action.] No surprises here, based on previously seen footage of Firpo, or Wills against Uzcudun. Harry would have been far more to Dempsey's liking stylistically than Tunney. There's no sign that Harry was any kind of jabber who applied stick and move mobility for maximizing his height and reach. I'm satisfied Jack would have knocked him out rather conclusively at any time during Dempsey's reign. One didn't meet the prime Mauler head on like that without paying the price. [Keep in mind that Wills was already 30 years old when Dempsey trashed Willard in Toledo. Jack was half a dozen years younger.] Still, Harry displays faster hands than the typical "big slow guys" Jack enjoyed feasting on. Jess Willard is another matter, as is Tunney. Styles make fights. I do wonder what happens if Gene and Big Jess try to lay back against a big attacker like all three clips show Wills to be, and succeed at getting the better of things. Wills-Madden was right before Tunney-Carpentier, and Harry was considerably bigger than anybody Gene ever took on. [Martin Burke was an inch taller than Wills, but also 45 pounds lighter, and Harry clearly applied his size advantage when he could avail himself of it. That wasn't useful against a Dempsey, but we don't know that a Tunney would have been as effective in negating greater size in an opponent of that caliber.]
This is good footage! wills looks a good fighter. Fast hands, athletic without looking like a sensation. He steps back to create room for his man to step into range and is confident in relying on his ability to beat the other fellow to the draw. Uses the same trick over and over without looking too versatile. causes clinching once hes unloaded. Firpo looked a real handful and difficult to look good against. I can see how Wills was successful against other fighters. Hes not smothering his best work
Where did you find these clips? Wonderful especially the wills Firpo footage. Very clear and up close. Wills looks worse than expected. I too don't see Dempsey having any issues finding Wills. I'd bet on a short bout.
i knew there was a reason i kept coming back to these boards. thanks for posting these vids. yes, wills is 35 in both these fights but this is better than just watching uzcudun blow him out in a few seconds of footage. love the walker-mctigue footage at the beginning of the second vid as well.
I have contact with a man who has access to rare boxing footage - I bought a few copies of him in the past and I also asked him about Harry Wills footage. But I do not run around and post that stuff openly on youtube or everywhere else. As you see the video on youtube is unlisted and I only made it available for you guys.
Thanks for posting this very generous.Good quality. Wills is dissapointing here imo. He looks slow of foot and open to shots. One might argue that s is being dragged down tothe level of his opponent, except that he looks no better in the brief clip against Madden. Wills had a history of hitting on the break /after the bell and was thrown out for it a couple of times.
True but Wills was a health fanatic and physical culturist who took long hikes , abstained from drink ,and fasted one day a week. Since Wills had fought Madden less than three months previously ring rust cannot be a factor either. He looks inferior to a 37 years old Johnson at Havana,imo.
