If they had had the neutral corner rule when Jack Dempsey fought Jess Willard?

Question

how would it have panned out? If you watch the film of the fight Dempsey stood over Willard the whole time and hit him as soon as he started to stand up every time. Dempsey said in his autobiography that by the time the fight was stopped his arms felt as if they were on fire and he could hardly lift them. Suppose Wilard had been allowed to rise from the first knock down and get himself together. Would the outcome have changed?

Answer 1

willard hadn't fought in three years prior to facing dempsey, an he came into the ring out of shape , so it would have made no difference to the outcome, except willard might have lasted a few more rounds..........it could even have been another baer carnera, how long would THAT fight have lasted WITHOUT  the neutral corner rule, even though the rule was slightly bent in that one ?

Answer 2

Dempsey would still have won.   It would just take a little longer.  Jess was appointed by the white press to get rid of Jack Johnson.  He was never really interested in being the heavyweight champion of the world in the sense of defending the title or a regular basis.  

For a big man, Jess Willard was never much of a fighter.  He didnt like to train and, for some dumb reason, he took Dempsey lightly,  figuring that a man Dempsey's size wouldnt trouble him.  Foolish.

Any fighter would be winded if he fought the way Dempsey did.  However,  one thing Dempsey did know,  he had far better stamina than did Willard.  Also,  Willard's size was his DISADVANTAGE.  Nearly all of the Gargantuian fighters could never really BOX or even FIGHT.   Many of their victories came in the sense that their opponents were more occupied with their size than their ability.  I think the first fighter to show no fear of Willard would have beaten him.  Dempsey certainly had no fear of him.  

A neutral corner rule would only have prolonged Willard's demise.  He claims Dempsey's gloves were loaded.  With the rules,  and the way people often worked around them,  who's to say.   More than a handfull of writers from that time era have made the same claim.  I dont think it would have made a difference.  Willard was simply made for Dempsey.  Styles make fights.

Look at this:  As horrible as he was as a fighter,  I think Willard would give Marciano a tough fight.  Rocky would eventually clobber him but it wouldnt be an easy fight.  Dempsey handled big men better than did Marciano.  However,  I think Dempsey's weakness, in addition to mobil fighters, would be Marciano.   I think Rocky would beat Jack.  Again,  styles make fights.

With the neutral corner rule, Willard would have some recovery time.  But, then so would Dempsey.

Dempsey by KO in 7

Answer 3

Jack would have still knocked out Jess Willard. Actually this fight should have been stopped in the first round after the pounding that Willard had already received.  It's amazing how he was able to endure so much punishment.  Had Jack been ordered to the neutral corner after the knockdowns, he would still have pounded the big man to the canvas.  Maybe the fight lasts a little longer but not much.  I say Dempsey would have still ko'ed Jess in 5-6 rounds.