1.If Wills had gotten a title shot at Champion Big Jess, [ and he merited one off his current record,]would he have been crowned Champion? 2.Would he have defended against Dempsey? Thoughts?
Two interesting questions! 1. I lean towards yes. Willards preparations were not exactly meticulous then, and it was not obvious how dangerous Wills was. 2. Impossible to say. Brave men can become cowardly very quickly, once the title is in their hands.
Wills was fairly popular, not a strutter like Johnson, and his wife was black, but it was still only a few years after Johnson's reign . I think public pressure would have been enormous on him to defend against a white challenger. Apart from Godfrey quite a bit later, there would not have been obvious black challengers for him to defend against. The great trio of McVey,Jeannette ,and Langford were back numbers by then. The $$$ would have been in a match with an exciting white challenger, Fulton was destroyed by Dempsey ,so it only really left Jack in the frame. Could Wills have resisted the public pressure and the prospect of big bucks?:think
Ironically, that might be the most probable scenario for Dempsey beating Wills! The evil monster of Toledo against a Wills learning the meaning of comfort?
I think Wills would struggle with Willards size. At best i see a win on points, Especially if it was a 10 rounder or something around there. It would be a big call to give Wills a decision considering what happened with Johnson. I think a No Decision fight would be likely, although to be honest i think Willard has everychance. If Wills were to win and assuming both he and Dempsey continue winning, i dont see any possible way to avoid a Dempsey fight. In fact, i dont see how any fighter who had a lenghty reign could have avoided Dempsey unless other fighters beat him or subdued him. There never has been an exciting fighter with a record like Dempseys Streak who has been denied a title shot. I dont believe their ever will be.
You have a valid point with Willard's size B. Harry liked to grab clinch and maul and he was usually the bigger guy, how successful would he have been with the huge Willard? Jess liked you out at the end of his telescopic left hand, how effective would Harry have been at long range?
I don't think Wills would have beaten Jess. And I say that more so because what I see in Jess in that fight, versus any shortcoming on Wills end. Think about this, if Dempsey couldn't keep Willard on his back with those punches, who could? Tthose who think that Dempsey wasn't powerful enough to KO him, think again. The injuries objectively speak for themselves. Willard got hit by a car, and was game to keep fighting. Or at least strong enough to stand up. Willard was nailing Jack with lots of big punches before the carnage began. I think Dempsey was in dangerous waters against Willard. He rushed in for the kill before it could get too deep. I think that is a necessary tactic against Willard, and I would bet on Jess stopping Wills from doing that.
Great questions, there were some real good points raised on this thread. I believe if they were allowed to fight Willard would've won a dec. Cos of his size, and as you said Willard's comfort zone was on the outside. Wills game was rushing into a clinch, grabbing, hitting and wrestling, on the plus side both had real good uppercuts. Willard's uppercut had a better chance of landing then Wills, cos of the difference in style. But let's say Wills did win, then for sure he would have fought Dempsey, that would have been the money fight. If Wills wanted to defend against Godfrey he probably would have made more money in Europe.
You raise some excellent points R. Willard was super durable and I don't think Wills could hit like Dempsey,few could! Willard carried the power to stop Harry imo, but he wasn't a seek and destroy guy,as he said himself if you didn't hurt him he wasn't keen on hurting you.It would probably be a fairly boring tussle with lots of mauling ,pushing ,and shoving.Wills was the better fighter imo ,but sometimes styles and size nullify superior ability,it's possible this would have been one of those times.:think
Glad you're enjoying the thread.:good It's hard to come up with new ideas. Most have been already thought of by posters more knowledgeable than I.