Bob Fitzsimmons vs. George Foreman

[butterfly1964]

jimmy young vs jess willard is the fight i want to see, or jimmy vs dempsey. That jimmy young from the 70's was indeed a spoiler, he was awesome. made ali look like crap, sent foreman into a 10 year retirement, beat lyle twice.

Young probably would beat Jess Willard, but Dempsey would proabaly swarm all over and be too much for Young.

[Kid Achilles]

I'll take Jimmy Young to decision Willard, assuming we're talking 15 rounds and big 1970's gloves. 20, 30 rounds and tiny gloves, who knows.

As for Jimmy vs. Dempsey, I'll go with Dempsey via decision or late knockout. Tommy Gibbon's defensive expertise did not help him do much more than survive against Dempsey's offensive skill and body attack. I do think Young would give Dempsey a better fight than Gibbons, but Young did not have the power to really trouble Dempsey more than shaking him up perhaps if he catches him with a good counter, and hurting Dempsey usually just meant you were about to get your teeth knocked out yourself.

Young was a fine contender, and in boxing anything can happen, but I don't see him beating Dempsey.

[BKM-]

Unfortunately, Fitzsimmons would not have the size to hang with Foreman long enough. If he was a much bigger man naturally, i could see him countering Foreman and outboxing him. I am impressed by Foreman's strength everytime i watch his fights, and he would easily push Bob back and gain control of the fight.

[brownpimp88]

I have seen a a great deal of footage from both dempsey and jack johnson. I'm sorry, but dempsey is better and its the truth. I think the word overrated, applies to jack johnson for sure.

If he fought lewis, lennox would stiff arm his face, keep the reach and just pound his chin until he gets blasted. I hat to say it butterfly, but jack johnson aint all that.

[Terry A]

I don't consider Foreman any stronger than Jeffries, and Fitz gave him a hell of a fight before he finally broke his hands on Jeffrie's granite skull. I would give Fitz a chance of pulling off an upset. He hit hard enough to hurt Foreman, or any man for that matter, IMO, but it would be difficult to cope with Foreman's reach and aggression.

I'll go with Foreman but I can easily see him getting countered with those telegraphed punches and finding himself on his ass. A great hitter is a great hitter. Guys like Fitz and Langford proved they could hurt heavyweights over 200 lbs and you have to respect their punch as being strong even by heavyweight standards. Fitz was also very clever and a sharp, one punch knockout guy who could take you out with one to the head or body. I don't know how his stlye would deal with Foreman's "wrecking ball on two feet" assault, but I can guarantee you that if he lands his best punch of Foreman, Big George would be in trouble.

Kid Achilles,
Your post is well thought out and written nicely, but I can't see how anyone before Joe Louis would have even a remote chance against Foreman. He is just too big with too much firepower. And don't forget, his chin survived some big hitters. Lack of stamina did him in more than punches. Maybe I disrespect the real old timers too much, but unless they survived late, I can't fathom them having any shot.

[butterfly1964]

I have seen a a great deal of footage from both dempsey and jack johnson. I'm sorry, but dempsey is better and its the truth. I think the word overrated, applies to jack johnson for sure.

If he fought lewis, lennox would stiff arm his face, keep the reach and just pound his chin until he gets blasted. I hat to say it butterfly, but jack johnson aint all that.

Notice how he says Dempsey is better, but can't explain why.

[brownpimp88]

jack never does anything that impresses me. Wow he grapples welterweights and middleweights and smiles on camera. He fights a skilless goon like willard and actually losses to him. A 37 year old holmes wouldnt lose to him. Not to mention that he cant even throw combos. Jack Johnson is overrated, he was black and he was proud, but he aint top 10.

[butterfly1964]

jack never does anything that impresses me. Wow he grapples welterweights and middleweights and smiles on camera. He fights a skilless goon like willard and actually losses to him. A 37 year old holmes wouldnt lose to him. Not to mention that he cant even throw combos. Jack Johnson is overrated, he was black and he was proud, but he aint top 10.

Well Larry Holmes never had to fight 45 round fights. If the fight was 15 rounds Johnson would have won every round.

And did you say that Johnson didn't throw combos?

[butterfly1964]

jack never does anything that impresses me. Wow he grapples welterweights and middleweights and smiles on camera. He fights a skilless goon like willard and actually losses to him. A 37 year old holmes wouldnt lose to him. Not to mention that he cant even throw combos. Jack Johnson is overrated, he was black and he was proud, but he aint top 10.

And I'm sure that in addition to the 45 rounds, if Holmes was under trained, over confident and overweight, he would have gotten knocked out, too.

[Underboss]

April Fools aint for another month, stop playin around!

i hope he aint serious lol