James Jeffries question

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

In your opinion



were corbett and fitz past there prime when they fought jeffries??


fitz was 36 coming off two year layoff


corbett was 33 coming off over 1 year layoff

[The Great John L]

In your opinion



were corbett and fitz past there prime when they fought jeffries??


fitz was 36 coming off two year layoff


corbett was 33 coming off over 1 year layoff

Neither was near their peak when they fought Jeff. However, I still consider Jeff a great fighter.

[theone]

Very good question. I think prime Corbett would have had a better chance against Jefferies because of his style. He was out boxing the boilermaker for around twenty rounds when they first fought, but Jefferies could have just been bidding his time. Fitz would probably have never been able to knock out Jefferies. I believe Fitz would have eventually been knocked out even in his prime.

[-KOKid-]

They probably were. That said, not few heavyweight champs fought peak vs. peak unless they were champs for short period.
The only ones I can think of would be Liston vs. Patterson, Patterson vs. Johansson, Holyfied vs. Bowe and Holyfield vs. Moorer.
Possibly Schmeling vs. Sharkey as well.

All of these fighters had relatively short reigns (two years or less), with the expection of Patterson's first reign in which he avoided the best challengers.
For those who were champions for several or more years, they never got to face the next champion while themselves in their prime. Instead they rather beat the would be champions while still in their own, which in my opinion is a greater feat.

-KOKid-