Harry Willis greater than Dempsey?

[JAB5239]

Jab I will say two words here...From all accounts Willis was a dangerous contender he beat everyone there was to beat. By all accounts the fight would have been popular. ...The gates would be huge..atleast I see more interest than Dempsey Brenan...

I do think if Dempsey got beat it would be a catastrophe for his career.

Beating a big guy called Jess Willard , who was inactive for a long time and Fred Fulton a decent contender is all fine. But Willis would be different.

I would also like to say one last thing...In the Tunney - Dempsey I saw a remarkable thing. Dempsey was completely neutralized in the clinches by Tunney...Now I do know that Willis liked to clinch a lot and fight from the outside. I will hazard to say that he was strong enough to hold Dempsey in the clinches same as a much lighter Tunney did to a faded Dempsey.

I do think that this is far closer than many make out...

There use to be a poster here that swore up and down that there was no money to be made in a Dempsey-Wills or Dempsey-Greb fight until I found a poll from a 1922 New York newspaper asking who the public wanted Dempsey to fight the most. The overwhelming majority picked Wills and than Brennan and Greb in that order. I'll see if I can find it if anyone wants. I believe its in one of my books.

I also think this would be better fight than some have suggested, but my gut still goes with Dempsey. For the many things I criticize him for he still had very fast feet and hands and I think that would be Wills undoing.

[Greatest1942]

There use to be a poster here that swore up and down that there was no money to be made in a Dempsey-Wills or Dempsey-Greb fight until I found a poll from a 1922 New York newspaper asking who the public wanted Dempsey to fight the most. The overwhelming majority picked Wills and than Brennan and Greb in that order. I'll see if I can find it if anyone wants. I believe its in one of my books.

I also think this would be better fight than some have suggested, but my gut still goes with Dempsey. For the many things I criticize him for he still had very fast feet and hands and I think that would be Wills undoing.

I was referring to that Poll when I said Willis would generate more interest than Brenan...I rememebered that but could not remember the source.

I think if WIllis keeps him outside, and clinches him when he comes inside successfully , it will be difficult for Dempsey. However I think Dempsey will be teh favourite too, but Willis can win.n I do think Willis was a better heavy than Tunney, he was big and strong and a good puncher. He could neutralize Dempsey.

It will be a great match anyway.

[JAB5239]

I was referring to that Poll when I said Willis would generate more interest than Brenan...I rememebered that but could not remember the source.

I think if WIllis keeps him outside, and clinches him when he comes inside successfully , it will be difficult for Dempsey. However I think Dempsey will be teh favourite too, but Willis can win.n I do think Willis was a better heavy than Tunney, he was big and strong and a good puncher. He could neutralize Dempsey.

It will be a great match anyway.

Head to head I don't think Wills would have beaten Tunney, but he should certainly rank higher all time at heavyweight.

[Greatest1942]

Head to head I don't think Wills would have beaten Tunney, but he should certainly rank higher all time at heavyweight.

The Poll probably was in a Pittsburg paper (I might be mistaken), and it is there in the book Harry Greb by Bill Paxton.

SOme other intersting info :-

New York Times--September 13, 1926, page 27

"Harry Will will never get a chance at the world's heavyweight championship title while Jack Dempsey remains the titleholder nor will Wills get a chance to make money with Dempsey as a medium. This was the emphatic declaration made here this afternoon by Dempsey in response to a question by one of the newspaper men who visited the titleholder in the dressing room before the day's workout."
Pretty damaging huh?

A lot has been said about Tunney being ducked by Willis.

September 10, 1925 New York Times, page 21-----WILLS NOW READY TO FIGHT TUNNEY

"Just when it seemed all prospects for a heavyweight battle between Harry Wills and Gene Tunney before the end of outdoor season was unlikely, Paddy Mullins, manager of the negro boxer, announced yesterday that Wills was ready and eager to meet Tunney."

When the push came to shove in this instance (after calling out Willis, him refuting at first and then relenting), Tunney signed to fight Bartley Madden.

One last thing, I heard dempsey call Willis slow. From teh newspaper I read it appears Willis was big , strong and a good fast mover...Not Fulton or Willard but rather a good boxer with speed and a bit above average power...