I'm saying the winner is something if hot debate. So far I can't find anyone who would have been considered anything other than a big underdog vs Willard.
I don't think Fulton would have been a HUGE underdog against Willard. He probably would have been the same kind of underdog as Harry Wills against Dempsey, maybe less of an underdog. Dariusz Michalzewski would have been a pretty big underdog againt Jones Jr.
Well Dempsey was an underdog despite knocking out Fulton in one. There were fears that Willard would kill Dempsey in the ring. By the time wills beat firpo I think him and Dempsey would be pretty much even money. At the end of the 90's Jones v DM would be pretty much even money. Willard seems to have been very highly rated during his day, more so than we rate him looking back.
The rest of what you wrote is debatable. But this I can't agree with in the slightest. :nono Roy Jones Jr. would have been MASSIVE FAVOURITE to whup Dariusz. Surely ? :huh Did I miss something ?
I think he'd have battered him but it was the fight everyone wanted to see and after dm beat hill up until the early 00's I dont think anyone is a massive favourite to beat him.
Everyone outside of DM's immediate family and some fanatical Poles and Germans would think the exact same thing. Making DM a pretty severe underdog.
A retrospective severe underdog. During the late 90's I think he ain't gonna be a severe underdog against any lhw.
I must differ on that one. Wills drew a lot of criticism for the Firpo fight and unfavourable comparisons with Dempsey, despite dominating Firpo. I am certain that Dempsey would have been instaled as the betting favourite.
Does that apply to the 3 year gap between Dempseys defence against Firpo and his defence against Tunney?
Criticism based on style not on skill. It underlined his status as clear number 1 contender. Firpo had much less success against Wills. The fight wasn't as exciting as jack's was but the clear domination combined with jack continually refusing to fight Wills makes it more open to debate.
No I am merely saying that wills and Dempsey were both at the top of the division together. I dont think there was anyone like that during willards reign. Fulton was a deserving top contender in my opinion but I'm not sure why the fight never came off.
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No, again I shall reword because you misunderstood my post. I have found no suggestion that anyone was considered in the class of Willard during his reign. During other reigns (I gave two examples) this isn't always the case.
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