Roy Jones vs Jess Willard

Jones is faster than Johnson but also probably (depending on source) two or three inches shorter and probably forty to fifty pounds lighter. I think it is a good question if Jones would be big enough to handle Johnson. Willard is gigantic compared to Johnson, so that Jones is just going to be an easy winner doesn't wash with me. Size does matter, and this will be a hellacious difference. More than half a foot in height, and more than sixty lbs. in weight. We are talking a natural light-heavy against a natural 240 pounder.

Willard survived in his own time against five ounce gloves, so I don't see any reason to think he won't here.

Jones will have to work and move all the time, and clinches will be hellacious dragging that big lug around.

I think this one goes like and ends like the Robinson-Maxim fight.

In a finish fight, Willard by KO. Jones should easily win a ten to fifteen round decision if he paces himself properly.

 

You don't seem to have a clue about taking into account circumstances and conditions etc?? Do you really know much about boxing from those days?? You can't just compare in a literal sense? You do have to a little bit of lateral thinking and taking into account of certain things you know?? You might actually develop a bit of an appreciation if you think a bit more about it you know?

Firstly - and this is massive - and something that seems to be lost on virtually everyone (including myself until my grandad made me aware - even though it probably should be obvious) - but in those days the soles of the shoes and boxing boots were not rubber like today - my grandad said they were tricky just walking down the road without slipping over - he said he didn't know how they even managed the movement they used in those days in the ring - he said if they had the rubber soles of today they be like whippets around the ring basically so that's a massive thing right there and something could well explain why their footwork may seem fundamentally incorrect at times as well as limited and why they might at times look to be literally trying to stay as static as they could - making the other guy move first would be key as their balance would instantly be affected - you literally could not box or move at the same pace you can today for this reason alone but put them in today's boxing boots and everything instantly changes - and infact put them in today's boots and they'd probably translate to having almost perfect balance I there having been accustomed no zero grip in their own days and still managing.

Put Jones those same boots where the only grip you could get would be what you could s****e in with the old resin in the corner and his fast moves would be greatly undermined.

Also obviously a 45 round limit in the Willard-Johnson bout obviously restricts both fighters massively in terms of how fast a pace they decided to adopt.

And also swap the gloves as well and this also affects this big time the gloves tiny and horrendous to fight in in comparison with modern gloves and also another massive factor No Hand Wraps - I know from being at the boxing gym personally that without wraps I cant punch anywhere near as hard or often as I can with and I have to be VERY careful with how'd hit without them as well - it changes everything - and also no gumshields - you've seen how fast guys go into retreat these days when they lose the gum shield and when they do start to get nailed without the gum shield it really shows and they start to really go into a shell?

You've got to seriously think about these things and obviously open air in intense heat had got to have affected the pace also in the Johnson Willard bout specifically as well?

 

Haha regards the canvases thing that's the exact opposite of what most old timers have told me? :good

And regards the wraps I thought it was pretty common knowledge that hand wraps weren't used - infact Ibe always been led to beleive the Dempsey-Willard fight was the first heavyweight title fight where they were used? Which was exactly why Dempsey felt he could swing for the hills with everything he had - the first fighter to really ever do so like that and any coincidence that it was the first time we ever saw that kind of serious damage dealt out so quickly?
Most guys prior to Dempsey were one shot pot shotters and for good reason, hand protection.

If you watch the full video of the Willard Johnson match where you see them weighing in etc you will also see them putting the gloves on them right there in the ring and Willard absolutely doesn't have hand wraps on for that one - I'm pretty sure the Dempsey Willard fight was the first heavyweight title fight where they were used - which I'm sure I've read cited as one of the reasons why some were suspicious of them and if they were being loaded for extra damage etc

 

well said

there are some fights where we can see them slipping and falling all over the place tho (carp v siki 4 example).

 

People bashing Willard/Johnson need to watch Jones/Ruiz and have their memory refreshed. Lots of feinting and slow action in that one. People trying to imagine a Super Middle Jones in there, not the later year LHW/HW version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ynKvpgrD8c

 

Or tons of other heavyweight fights. It's a slow division.

 

He didn't die from influenza so that's a plus mark on his health.

 

Jones, Jr. was a hell of an athlete who had marathon sessions in the gym and would later go play basketball for entertainment. Just because he wasnt given the opportunity to 26 roubds doesn't mean he could not do so with aplomb. My guess is that he would alter his preparation to account for the distance.