Favorite White Heavyweight

[Hockaday]

I gotta go with the Rock. The first time I watched one of his old fights, I was not impressed. He seemed slow and awkward, but after a while I realized he wasn't all that slow or awkward, just as many of his opponants came to realize once they got into the ring with him. Their was a method to his madness, the way he rolled his shoulders and bent to probe for openings. Like Louis and Dempsey, he could take you out with a punch that travelled eight inches from launch to impact.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Many of the old timers and many still today say Jeffries was the best heavyweight ever. From the bit of film I have seen of him I would have to disagree slightly because the sport was somewhat young at the time (nobody ever saw the ancient Greeks)and the skills and technique of his era hadn't evolved yet. But the skills, techniques, and tactics of boxing by the 1920's were virtually the same as what we see today. Perhaps more so because they relied on a man's natural size and did not beef up like they do today (like Byrd not like Toney). Therefore any fighter from the twenties onward is fair to pick in my humble opinion anyway. And the meanest and most vicious heavyweight I have ever seen on film is Dempsey. Dempsey didn't pace himself and budget himself to 40-50 punches per round like many of the heavies today. He went out throwing as many as it took for the knockout. Good chin down tucked-in defense, bobbing, weaving, leading with the jab, getting in close and staying there and not getting tied up, flashy hand speed, and cracking power, thick bristled hair and cow-hide skin, and that scowl! It was just too bad Jack Johnson was too old to fight him.

 

[Gary]

The Dempsey that almost killed Jess Willard in the hot sun in 1919 would be way to much of a fighter for Jack Johnson, Johnson had a good defense but as tough as Dempsey was and as hard as he could hit-Johnson would not see the 8th round.

 

[white is right]

Johnson while a great defensive fighter made his bones off of a weak division and a shot Jefferies. He beat up a tiny Burns and then beat up a bunch of no hopers. He is overratted. Dempsey vs Johnson would have been a superfight and then we would know Johnsons real worth....

 

[White_Savage]

The sport wasn't really young, it had been around at least 100 years (Compare that with how long MMA has been around) and contrary to popular belief, the technique was not crude, however it was different because boxing had just recently introduced gloves, gotten rid of wrestling throws, etc (Broughton rules), still wasn't too divorced from street origins, and fights were still often to the finish with dozens of rounds, etc. You'll notice that alot of what works in boxing, simply doesn't show up in the MMA prize ring. I think their hand skills are destined to mirror the techniques of early glove and bare-knuckle fighters.

Jeffries wasn't a skill fighter per se anyway, but of course if he were around today he'd have the access to all the skills he needed to maximize his attributes, with modern training methods he'd be unreal strong. His only liability would be that his tremendous endurance wouldn't have the same value it did in finish fights-he could loose desciscions to "cute" boxers, but only if they basically got on their bicycle.

 

[jcolec02]

Vitali Klitschko NEVER lost a fight (i dont care what his record says) and he has never been knocked down in a fight.....neither has he been behind on a scorecard.....not to mention the highest ko percentage in boxing history...plus he is big and scary and tough!!! haha

 

[dkr77]

Billy Conn, who was not an actual heavyweight was a superb boxer and if I remember correctly he kicked the sh%$ out of Joe Louis for 11 rounds or so before he became careless and got KO'ed. Gerry Cooney, who was'nt that skilled of a boxer did possess one of the best left hooks to the body I have EVER seen. Randall "Tex" Cobb had to have one of the best chins of all time. Marciano, great power, great stamina, great chin and huge heart, but still rather small for a heavyweight. I would have to agree with the Jeffries / Dempsey view. However, this current crop of europeans are definitely carving a permanant place in history for themselves. We may have the greatest heavyweight of all time just starting his career among some of todays fighters. These are very interesting times gentlemen, let us enjoy them! Has the song says "These are the good old days" :^)Edited by: dkr77

 

[jcolec02]

Hate to disagree with you dkr77 but "the good old days" are going to last a very long time with these europeans.....the fighters you are seeing now are only the tip of the iceberg