Jack Johnson - Joe Jeanette Sparring

[NChristo]

I have seen this footage before but not of this quality.

These guys can move !, even at 67 and 71. Really shows how good they must have been in their hay day and people say the old timers can't keep up with the boxers of today .




Credit to GreatA for uploading this.

[Sugarj]

Terrific to see that!

Prime Johnson was great, check out that combination work in that small clip of the Burns fight.

I've seen something similar to this about James J Corbett, he moved well, even in old age.

Flicker film doesn't do these great stylists justice!

[Miburo]

I have seen this footage before but not of this quality.

These guys can move !, even at 67 and 71. Really shows how good they must have been in their hay day and people say the old timers can't keep up with the boxers of today .




Credit to GreatA for uploading this.

I think this is the first time I've heard Johnson's voice before. Interesting that for a poor black boy from Galveston he sounds like a broadcaster of that era.

[TheGreatA]

I think this is the first time I've heard Johnson's voice before. Interesting that for a poor black boy from Galveston he sounds like a broadcaster of that era.

[Sugarj]

Ha ha, yes Johnson was very articulate.......those hundreds of fights/exhibitions over all the decades he fought didn't affect him at all.

He'd quote Shakespeare, speak in an exaggerated old English accent and natter with reporters mid fight. Oh and he could box well too.

Crazy guy.........

[dvb]

what a great guy, those two being that olddd but still manage to have better footwork than the fast effin slobs that call themselves athletes today!.

[JAB5239]

Ha ha, yes Johnson was very articulate.......those hundreds of fights/exhibitions over all the decades he fought didn't affect him at all.

He'd quote Shakespeare, speak in an exaggerated old English accent and natter with reporters mid fight. Oh and he could box well too.

Crazy guy.........

Unfortunately this probably contributed to much of the hate heaped upon him. I'd venture a guess and say that much of white America at that time frowned upon him not only being a great fighter but so well spoken as well.

[Miburo]

Unfortunately this probably contributed to much of the hate heaped upon him. I'd venture a guess and say that much of white America at that time frowned upon him not only being a great fighter but so well spoken as well.

I doubt most had any idea how he spoke. Video footage was not accompanied by sound in that era.

[JAB5239]

I doubt most had any idea how he spoke. Video footage was not accompanied by sound in that era.

You may be right, but I tend to believe that word would have gotten around. Johnson was never one to hold his tongue. I can't substantiate that, its just an opinion.

[Miburo]

You may be right, but I tend to believe that word would have gotten around. Johnson was never one to hold his tongue. I can't substantiate that, its just an opinion.

I'm sure they read newspaper quotes and the like, but print tends to be adulterated (writers tend to correct for grammar, etc.) so they may have just assumed he was really talking like a country redneck.