Curious who (if either) you rank higher, as all-time heavyweights, in the following three pairings: 1) John L. Sullivan/Peter Jackson? 2) Peter Jackson/James J. Corbett? 3) James J. Corbett/Robert 'Bob' Fitzsimmons? Please name (for each numbered pairing) the boxer you rank higher as an all-time heavyweight; 'even', if you firmly esteem them equally; or 'uncertain'. Feel free to make any additional comments as to the rational for your choices.
My opinion: 1. Sullivan (dominated everybody for nearly a decade). 2. Jackson (More quality/unambiguous wins than Corbett). 3. Fitzsimmons (More quality/unambiguous wins than Corbett, which happen to include Corbett himself). I will give further clarification if requested.
1). I'll go with John L. Sullivan. Not decisively. HtH, it'd been interesting. Not sure if Jackson's narrow waist and head would have held up, but John would have needed to get into shape. Jackson's defeat of Slavin was very good, but I think Sullivan, in a comparable place in his career, would have been just as wrong for Slavin; and I don't see Goddard doing near so well against Sullivan. Charlie Mitchell endured to give Sullivan trouble in Chantilly, but that was London Rules, and I don't know Jackson would have done better -- maybe, maybe not. (Sullivan mostly crushed Mitchell the first time they fought, gloveds). Sullivan somewhat more direct ascent to dominance than Jackson, and a longer dominant period, though I sympathize that Jackson pretty much took a 'screw this' attitude when the obvious bout with post-Sullivan Corbett couldn't/wouldn't be made. Sullivan vs. '91 Corbett, who Jackson met inconclusively? Who knows. Corbett might have been wrong for Sullivan, but even (big) if so, I'm not sure Corbett would have risked a bid at putting Sullivan away, if John showed up in shape. If I thought Jackson would have licked Sullivan, I might have gone with him; I suspect Corbett (an uncharitable 'No Contest' for both Peter and Jim) and Slavin were better than those Sullivan beat. But I'm just not sure if Jackson could avoid a aggressive and quick handed Sullivan enough.
1. Sullivan 2. Jackson 3. Fitzsimmons I think Jackson and Corbett are the closest. I'd currently rank them 1. Sullivan 2. Fitzsimmons 3. Jackson 4. Corbett
Today I was thinking (JLSullivan through JJohnson) 1A Jack Johnson 1B James Jeffries 3 Bob Fitzsimmons 4A James Corbett 4B John L Sullivan 4C Peter Jackson 7 Sam Langford
^Janitor: "I will give further clarification if requested." Would be delighted, Janitor, to read your expanded/clarified thoughts!
