Would Gentleman Jim's combination of SCIENTIFIC skills and Bareknuckle BRED toughness have upset Joe Louis?

Question

Although Gentleman Jim Corbet WAS NOT a Bareknuckle Champion. He LEARNED to fight in an era of impossibly BRUTAL men. He masterfully balanced beautiful footwork and Scientific boxing skills with an "Incredibly Rugged" "Bar Room Brawl Mindset"

Given how Billy Conn and other "boxers" did so well against Joe, It makes one wonder what could possibly happen if a Scientific boxer with a "Tough as Nails" CHIN and MINDSET fought Joe. I could possibly see this very gifted 1890's "Prize Fighter" pulling off the upset that Billy Conn could not because of his combination of Futuristic Skill and Medieval Toughness.

Answer 1

bob fitzsimmons kod him by punching him in the stomach jefferies hit him in the stomach and hit him with a left hook to the jaw  jefferies won the title by beating up an old 300 lbs john l sullivan james corbett good stylist but couldnt take a punch joe louis would of kod him

Answer 2

if a 167 pound bob fitzsimmons can knock the wind out of corbett's sails, then a 200 pound brown bomber would as well.

Answer 3

Great question. Historian Bert Sugar wrote of the fight between Louis and Bily Conn, about Conn, "His consummate boxing skill, his flashy left hand the center piece (that) made him a lineal descendant of 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett, the first of the great scientific boxers, also with great defense"... Makes one wonder if Bert also wondered about a matchup of Louis and Corbett as well.

Corbett was a boxer deluxe. He was very clever, elusive and very, very fast ( sounds like Conn.) Joe Choynski, who was a outstanding fighter and gifted as a brawler/boxer combo, and known as being very quick, was amazed at Corbett's speed and skill, and Corbett always coming out the better man in their bouts.( also, Choynski beat and gave Jack Johnson a ko loss. One could argue however that Jack was still young and green, yet on the other hand Joe was older , battle worn and no longer in his prime, making it balance out.(?)

The great gene Tunney sparred with Jim when Corbett was in his late 50's, early 60's (?) and Gene was stunned at Jim's bewildering speed, footwork and ability to mix up his punches. Tunney was on the defensive and said it was the greatest thing he'd ever seen.

Durant and Bettman said of corbett "Jim could feint, slip punches, side-step and counter with a left jab so fast that it was a blur to the eye." He was a master of the feint.

Many people who were alive to see the prime Peter Jackson fight and the same people who also saw a prime Jack Johnson fight, thought that Peter Jackson was better than Jack Johnson. Corbett went with the great legendary Peter Jackson 61 rnds. to a draw. (Jackson was amazed at Corbett's talent.)

While Fitzsimmons did beat Jim, Fitz was totally outboxed and near beat. How would history view Jim and Fitz. if not for the long delayed count on Bob's behalf during their match? Immediantly after the fight Jim demanded a re-match and told Bob if he did'nt he would whup him there in the streets every time he seen him. Bob avoided Jim and never gave him a re-match. ( Did Fitz. realize Jim was the far better fighter and he may not be as lucky the second time around.(?)

Corbett also had loses to Jim Jeffries yet in both bouts Corbett TOTALLY dominated Jeffries. Something other boxers hadnt done, execpt Jack Johnson, but Jack was fighting only a shell of Jeffries. Jeffries was so outboxed by Jim he thought of quitting during the bout. Jim Jeffries said of Corbett..."Was the cleverest man I ever fought. There isn't a fighter of any weight, living or dead who could measure up to him as a boxer

Every Fighter who fought Jim, every boxing writer, historian, etc. all lament of his extraordinary skills. No one ever said  Corbett was good, but not as great as they make out, NO ONE. Jim was probably the greatest ring general and thinker ever, He was the Albert Einstien of boxing. Jim actually drew pictures/graphs of boxing situations, pictures of getting out of corners when trapped and how to with various punches thrown at him. He was a ring thinker and could adapt to any situation during a fight. Jim was ahead of his time, a Ali or " Sugar" Ray Robinson  if you will. I think if you could time-warp Corbett to now and give him 6 months to a year to 'Modernize', he would prove to be a force.

Corbett was approx. 40 years removed from fighting Joe Louis. Would that make that much of a difference? (especially in view of Jims great skills.) Would a 40 yr. and 50 yr. removed Ali and Ray Robinson also do well with today's fighters? I feel they could, and would probably dominate. So a Corbett vs. Louis bout is not far fetched.

So if Corbett had all the attributes that Conn had, and then maybe more (?) Could it be that unreasonable he might gain a victory over Louis?

Answer 4

first and foremost you have to take under consideration can fighters like sullivan, corbett, fitzsimmons, and jeffries could in no way under the present boxing rules and regulations made any kind of impact. technical decision, technical draw, 10 point must system, 3 knockdown rule, standing 8 count, are some of the rules that did not exists in the era of sullivan, corbett, fitzsimmons, and jeffries would not have not survive !!!

Answer 5

Corbett's boxing ability was advanced compared to his competition actually lifting the sport to a respectable level.He lifted boxing  out of the barroom slough and won the support of a better class of patrons. He was clever,quick witted and punched with authority;however, he would not have had a chance against JOE. Please,Dollbaby,not many did.