I read a Jack Blackburn quote today...

[GJC]

Johnson gave a very good analysis on the weaknesses of Louis and his way of beating Louis was pretty much followed by Schmelling.
Clever fighter Johnson and I think he could formulate a plan to beat Louis but putting it into practise is another matter.
He wouild have a chance for sure but i'd still favour Louis

[the shark]

He's probably right, he would certainly have had first hand knowledge. This brings up a point about the old-timers vs more modern fighters. People today have no problem speculating how Ali would have done against one of the present champs. But if you try to discuss how Ali would have done against Johnson, people say it's an unfair comparison because there was so much time between when they fought and fighting evolved so much between their eras. Do the math, the time difference is about the same if you are thinking of the 60's Ali.

[Sugarj]

Thats a fair point Shark, also Johnson was around the same size as Louis, perhaps a touch taller and heavier. The only problem is that championship distances over the last 50 odd years have been 12 or 15 rounds, whereas Johnson often prepared for much longer distances........usually fought at a much slower pace, often with lots of holding.

The sport evolved greatly between 1900 and lets say 1950. I think the last 20 round fight was one of Joe Louis's.....was it Abe Simon? Not sure. Of course we saw the abandonment of the rule that allowed a fighter to stand over a felled opponent and hit them as they rise (As seen in Dempsey vs Willard). Fighters today have points docked, or are thrown out (in the case of Akinwande vs Lewis) for perpetual holding, Johnson would be guilty here.

But there wasn't much evolution in the sport between 1950 and today. The 15 round distance was cut to 12, gloves are more padded....but largely the sport hasn't changed too much in this time.

So I think its fair to say that the sport today vs 1960 is rather more similar........than for example 1960 vs 1910.

I still think Johnson beats Louis over 15 rounds though. I quite rate Johnson and think that he may well have the right style to beat Louis.

[QueensburyRules]

When asked about who would win between his charge (Joe Louis) and his contemporary (Jack Johnson) he said as much as it pained him to say it, Jack Johnson would have been too much on defense and that Joe was notorious for having problems with great fighters who were defensive minded. If given the choice he would picked Jack to win over Joe.


What do you guys think of that?

- - I'd say put the bottle and syringe down.

Blue Angels ain't gonna be riding Red Donkeys.

When Jack made his first and only visit to a Louis training camp, he didn't last 5 min before Jack Black gave him the Big Boot.

When Sam visited, no King has ever been feted better.