Jack Johnson Admits He Was Genuinely KO'd

[BKM-]

Johnson said his best conditioning was for Jeffries for which fight he was 208lbs .Seventeen pounds lighter than for Willard,plus he was 5 years younger when he fought Jeffries

Pictures of Johnson in both the Willard and Jeffries fights emphatically show the difference in conditioning and fitness of Johnson in both fights. Anyone who thinks Johnson was half as ripped for the Willard fight as he was for Jeffries,needs to follow another sport,wrestling perhaps?

Is it fair to say Johnson was about as good a shape he could have been in at that stage in his career? I agree he was past his prime, he had the milage and age going against him plus his style relied on reflexes, hand and foot speed. That would go in line with the story of the fight, with johnson outclassing Willard early to mid fight when he was full of energy and his quickness and athleticsm carried him. Then age made him slow down and he started getting hit, tired out and got clipped by the younger, bigger man.

It's just that the OP makes it sound like he didn't train and got off the couch straight into the ring which is pretty much impossible considering his performance.

[travestyny]

I don't think anyone really believed Johnson threw this fight.


I do believe he faked the Ketchel knockdown. You can see him begin to go down before the punch reached the mark.

[Anomalocaris]

I don't think anyone really believed Johnson threw this fight.


I do believe he faked the Ketchel knockdown. You can see him begin to go down before the punch reached the mark.

Oh yes and boy did Ketchel pay when Jack became genuinely furious.

[Willie Pep 229]

The two logics don't jive.

If Johnson was faking the KD why would he be angry at Ketchel for following the script?

[BKM-]

The two logics don't jive.

If Johnson was faking the KD why would he be angry at Ketchel for following the script?

Maybe he saw it coming(God knows that was one telegraphed swing for the fences) and sort of went down and acted hurt to bait Ketchel, letting him believe he had Johnson hurt and had his own guard down, so Johnson could punish Ketchel hard and quick.

[Bronson66]

Maybe he saw it coming(God knows that was one telegraphed swing for the fences) and sort of went down and acted hurt to bait Ketchel, letting him believe he had Johnson hurt and had his own guard down, so Johnson could punish Ketchel hard and quick.

One plausible theory is that he saw it coming and deliberately went down to add value to the movies of the fight,for which he was on a percentage. Johnson had hoisted Ketchel up and set him on his feet after hitting him too hard earlier.Film shows he was carrying Ketchel.

[Willie Pep 229]

Maybe he saw it coming(God knows that was one telegraphed swing for the fences) and sort of went down and acted hurt to bait Ketchel, letting him believe he had Johnson hurt and had his own guard down, so Johnson could punish Ketchel hard and quick.

This is getting pretty complicated just to save Johnson from the embarrassment of a KD.

[solidman]

That's the difference with Johnson and Dempsey. Johnson fought the middleweight champion and Dempsey didn't (Greb)

[QueensburyRules]

I don't think anyone really believed Johnson threw this fight.


I do believe he faked the Ketchel knockdown. You can see him begin to go down before the punch reached the mark.

- - It was a gentlemen's agreement between 2 nongentlemen.

Ketchel broke their covenant first, so JJ returned the favor and the rest is simple history.

[Anomalocaris]

That's the difference with Johnson and Dempsey. Johnson fought the middleweight champion and Dempsey didn't (Greb)

And Ketchell was no Greb (not that anyone was).