If Wills had matched and beat Dempsey for the title,who takes it form him?

[McGrain]

If you were having an educated guess?

Assume Jack is out of the picture, for whatever reason.

Dempsey loses to Wills in his second defence, fighting Wills instead of Brennan, December 1920.

[Maxmomer]

In what year does Wills hypothetically win the title?

[McGrain]

Good question, and I'll amend the first post accoridngly.

[he grant]

I assume you ment 1920 as that was when he fought Brennen for the title .. likely Tunney beats an old Wills in 26 or so ...

[Maxmomer]

Almost definitely Tunney. There are some that might be able to win a decision over Wills, but it'd be very unlikely. Tunney is the only one I'd pick over Wills in 1925 or 26.

[McGrain]

That's a looooooooooong fucking reign right there. Six years.

He'd be busy, too. Can't imagine him making anything like what Dempsey made through film.

[Maxmomer]

That's a looooooooooong fucking reign right there. Six years.

He'd be busy, too. Can't imagine him making anything like what Dempsey made through film.

Looking at his record he's pretty much mowing down the best of the division during that period anyway, till he got to Sharkey, I think he'd do the same as champion until Tunney catches him past his prime in 25, around the time Tunney started to really focus on competing at heavyweight, sometime after he beat up Greb in their last fight. If Tunney doesn't get to Wills first, though, Sharkey would probably beat him just as he did in real life in 26. And yes, I doubt he'd be making much money as champion except through fights. From what I've read, his fighting style was somewhat boring, plus he was black, so I doubt people would pay too much to watch him fight exhibitions or appear in films.

[McGrain]

Yeah, he just didn't have the style of a Jackson or a Johnson. He'd be fighting to make money. It would have been a rich time in title history.

[Mendoza]

If you were having an educated guess?

Assume Jack is out of the picture, for whatever reason.

Dempsey loses to Wills in his second defence, fighting Wills instead of Brennan, December 1920.


Well Jack Sharkey whipped Wills, and Wills did not impress vs Fripo either.

Maybe Tunney could have beaten Wills before Sharkey did. Much depends on who Wills fights

[klompton]

I dont know why you would think Wills didnt impress vs Firpo. The fight was lackluster because Wills dominated it easily but thats not Wills' fault. he did what he had to do and took care of business.

[mr. magoo]

Does Wills get to deny title shots to Caucasions?

[pmfan]

If you were having an educated guess?

Assume Jack is out of the picture, for whatever reason.

Dempsey loses to Wills in his second defence, fighting Wills instead of Brennan, December 1920.


Considering Jack Sharkey was, from the reports of their fight, beating the crap out of Wills when Wills was DQ'd, I guess it would be him. And Tunney may have as well, as Wills declined due to age.

But a prime Dempsey would have had a very good chance to beat Wills. From what I've read, contemporary opinion, even from those who clamored for Wills to get his (deserved) title shot, was that Dempsey would beat him.

Dempsey would probably not have been surprised by anything Wills did, having often sparred with Big Bill Tate (one of his prime sparring partners) and George Godfrey and, by all reports, getting the better of both of them consistently. That's not to say Wills might not have won, but it wouldn't be like Dempsey had never been in the ring with anyone like him. Godfrey was a monster and Tate had some wins over some famous fighters, including Wills and Langford (although he also had losses against those guys).

All that having been said, it is a crying shame that a legitimate contender like Wills could not get to fight for the title. He certainly should have been able to.

[janitor]

First he has to beat Dempsey.

Masive assumption.

[mcvey]

Does Wills get to deny title shots to Caucasions?
No way ,one thing you can bet on Wills challengers would be white!

[McGrain]

No way ,one thing you can bet on Wills challengers would be white!

I have to agree with this.

Although you wonder if his old foe Langford wouldn't get the shot.

[mr. magoo]

I have to agree with this.

Although you wonder if his old foe Langford wouldn't get the shot.

Nah, the world was not yet ready for another black champion. If Wills had won the title, the next black man to get a shot would have been Tim Witherspoon.

[Maxmomer]

First he has to beat Dempsey.

Masive assumption.

Well, McGrain said that Dempsey was out of the picture for "whatever reason". I choose to believe it's because he was eaten by a Kodiak bear.