I read a Jack Blackburn quote today...

[T.Horton]

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?

[slakka]

Its onna the greatest quotes in boxing IMHO. Where did you come across it?

[T.Horton]

Its onna the greatest quotes in boxing IMHO. Where did you come across it?

Gerald Suster's Champions of the Ring. Pretty darned good book.

[Sugarj]

I like that book too, I hope Gerald Suster updates it to present day. I own a signed copy that goes as far as Holyfield from memory, but there was one update that included Lewis, Bowe and Moorer from circa 1994.

As for Johnson vs Louis, I'm with Blackburn. He could have boasted that his charge would have destroyed Johnson, it could have never been proved otherwise. Blackburn hated Johnson, I forget why.....a bad sparring encounter or he wasn't paid for sparring. It was something like that!

But when he says Johnson would have won, I think he meant it in all honesty.

[NChristo]

Known for a while, there is a thread made not too long ago on Joe Louis Vs Jack Johnson where valid points where brought up for both sides, one I brought up being Louis Combination work would be too much for Johnson's parrying type defence and wouldn't be so efficient.

Could go either way but I think Louis as a advantage.

[T.Horton]

I like that book too, I hope Gerald Suster updates it to present day. I own a signed copy that goes as far as Holyfield from memory, but there was one update that included Lewis, Bowe and Moorer from circa 1994.

As for Johnson vs Louis, I'm with Blackburn. He could have boasted that his charge would have destroyed Johnson, it could have never been proved otherwise. Blackburn hated Johnson, I forget why.....a bad sparring encounter or he wasn't paid for sparring. It was something like that!

But when he says Johnson would have won, I think he meant it in all honesty.

Same here. I think that there dispute had something to do with Blackburn being so much smaller and getting the better of both Johnson in sparring and having fought and beaten a lot of Johnson contemporaries. At least that's how I remember it.

By the way, the book I have ends with Holyfield as well.

[T.Horton]

Known for a while, there is a thread made not too long ago on Joe Louis Vs Jack Johnson where valid points where brought up for both sides, one I brought up being Louis Combination work would be too much for Johnson's parrying type defence and wouldn't be so efficient.

Could go either way but I think Louis as a advantage.

The only issue that I have with that is that Louis APPEARS to be so flat footed and that every time he lets a combination fly he has to reset. A guy who is constantly moving might really bother him. Come to think of it, isn't that what Billy Conn did?

[TheGreatA]

Johnson never moved like Billy Conn though.

[McGrain]

Johnson has an excellent chance. In his prime he'd have a very good chance. Fifteen rounds might, might be to long though, like it was for Walcott versus a faded version.

[keepthemhandsup]

well louis had major problems with jersey joe so i agree that if they fought jhonson would win base on defense...but really it could go either way