Would a prime Peter Jackson beat Jeffries?

what a silly question! prime peter jackson beats every white fighter who ever lived, even with a baseball bat in their hands.

 

It is imposible to say given the uncertainties surronding Jackson.

What I will say is that prime Peter Jackson would have been the best oponent Jeffries shared a ring with except perhaps Jack Johnson. A Jeffries win is by no means a given.

 

Prime Peter Jackson may have been good enough to beat Jeffries or anyone else. I dont think it is quite true to say that he was a bigger version of corbett. It should not be forgotten that they did fight to a draw and while i know jackson may have had some excuses, it is obvious that Corbett and he were very close and similar in ability. I get the opinion that Corbett was more elusive and Jackson hit a fair bit harder. It also should not be forgotten that prime Jackson was not as invincible as many think. The Goddard fight in particular seems to have been a huge struggle with Goddard causing damage and knocking Jackson down, something noone ever did to a prime Jeffries. If i were to guess at a result over 20 rounds, i would think that Jeffries would win a close points decision. I also think that if they fought 5 times, Jeffries would score at least one knock out, but i also think that Jackson would score at least one and maybe two points decisions. Still, Peter Jackson was definitely an all time great and Jim Corbett should have definitely defended his title against him first up, imo.

 

Not likely. Jackson had his hands full with Joe Goddard, who was something of a poor man's Jeffries.

Jackson was not like Corbett in style. Corbett was quicker, and harder to hit. Jackson style was that of a skilled boxer puncher.The speed, skills and a solid punch were there, but boxer-punchers in general don't have great defense because they focus on offense. As far as I can tell Jackson didn't have an top level chin.

 

I believe that if a prime version of Jeffries was facing Jackson on that barge in San Francisco, instead of Corbett, that the Prince would have eventually succumbed in a fight to the finish.

Jackson is widely reported to have collapsed after those 61 rounds were contested (having entered that affair with a cold), and this despite the fact that his gloves had left the same imprints on Gentleman Jim's torso that Corbett's had left on his head. (My suspicion is that Corbett would have been judged the winner after 61 rounds, as the head is a more challenging target than the body to hit.)

Corbett was a fitness fanatic who was immensely proud of his discipline and conditioning. But when he was training for Fitzsimmons with Jeff as a sparring mate and exercise partner, the Boilermaker continually frustrated the reigning champion with his athletic superiority. No matter how fast Corbett sprinted down the railroad tracks during stops, Jeff ran faster. No matter how long a run Corbett undertook, Jeffries outlasted him. Everything Corbett could do, Jeff could do better, except box.

Given a 15 to 25 round distance, Peter Jackson outboxes Jeffries cleanly, just as a past prime Corbett did over 20. But if we are looking at a peak for peak fight to the finish between a healthy Jackson (no head cold or other illness) and a healthy Jeffries (not hindered by an impaired left as he was for the Sharkey rematch), then Jackson would be the one to collapse first in such a contest of endurance rather than
skill. Anyhow, that's my take on it.

As I've repeatedly stated, I favor the 15 round limit, because skill and effort become decisive factors in establishing who the superior gladiator proves to be. If the 15 round distance had been implemented for Willard/Johnson, then Lil' Artha' would not have dropped the title to a lesser adversary.

 

I'll tentatively go with Peter Jackson by 25 round UD then.

 

Here I disagree.

A past prime and injured Jackson fought Corbett to a draw and Corbett was the harder pressed of the two fighters throughout.

Jackson had an injured ankle which restricted his mobility and perhaps his ability to throw punches. A healthy Jackson might just have dismantled Corbett.

I think it is possible that Jackson was a level above Corbett and perhaps even on the same level as Jeffries.

 

Wow. My thoughts exactly. I don't even think this fight would be that close.