Jack Johson & Jack Dempsey : Who would be more effective in today's HW division?

[Master]

Would they not be cruiserwights today?

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Although Johnson was the big strong guy in his day, his awkwardness and reflexes have me thinking he'd be a somewhere between Dokes, Chambers and Byrd.

Demspey would be a less effective Morrison or Tyson.

I think both would have some success, probably not a great deal at the very top given their size disparity but Johnson would probably have a much longer career

Then again, Johnson's mindset was probably on being the big man, so as a little man he may not have the same strength in mind

[erics44]

Would they not be cruiserwights today?

if not light heavies

[Master]

Would they not be cruiserwights today?

if not light heavies

In that case they would destroy the light heavies and cruiser weights today.

[ross]

Theres no denying they had the will to win. The skill level back then wasnt as good amongst some of the fighters but its relative. They were still better than everyone else and coming throu the ranks today with todays training, skills being taught, nutrition etc they would either be very strong, huge light heavies or cruisers and could move up like Holyfield and Haye.

[imp]

Size is nothing against heart.

[Mr140]

There eras were jokes compared to now and todays division is far form the glory days, not the golden years either. Johnson was huge compared to the guys he fought he would not have the same advantage today. As for Dempsey well he won't fight black guys and the Brothers would destroy him badly.

[bradlee180]

There eras were jokes compared to now and todays division is far form the glory days, not the golden years either. Johnson was huge compared to the guys he fought he would not have the same advantage today. As for Dempsey well he won't fight black guys and the Brothers would destroy him badly.

Boy, what a horrible post, 140 !
Congratulations, it's a piece of $#!t !!!

[Beanflicker]

Neither of them would crack the top 15, but I'd say Johnson's counter punching style would fare a lot better.

[Fenster]

Willard looks better than Vitali? All I see is a KO waiting to happen. I'd bet my left nut that Willard wouldn't last 90 seconds with Wilder.

[Rantcatrat]

The nutrition and the sport science of the modern era is clearly better, but the skill-level among the guys of yesteryear was better. What's interesting is outside the heavyweights, the size of the other divisions hasn't changed very much. For example, a featherweight of 1925 is roughly the same size as a featherweight of today's day and age. While there were big heavyweights back then, there are more big heavyweights today.

I guess I think styles make fights. Ultimately, Dempsey would be better against some fighters and Johnson better against others. Johnson was floored by Stanley Ketchel. Joe Louis was out-boxed by Billy Conn. Gene Tunney outboxed Dempsey.

How deep was the heavyweight division during their time? How does it stack up against the best eras? Everyone pisses on the Klitschkos because the current heavyweight division is considered weak, but how weak is it compared with Johnson's and Dempsey's era?

It's a tough question really.