What if?

[JAB5239]

What if Tommy Burns/Sam McVea fight that was negotiated before the Johnson fight hadn't fallen through and McVea had become histories first black heavyweight champion? How would Johnson be remembered? How would McVea be remembered? Would colored heavyweights have suffered as much down the road with less boisterous McVea breaking the color barrier instead of Johnson? Would Johnson be considered just another good fighter instead of an all time great had he not been the first black champ? I think there are both many assumptions and logical conclusions that can be drawn from these questions. What are your thoughts?

[McGoorty]

What if Tommy Burns/Sam McVea fight that was negotiated before the Johnson fight hadn't fallen through and McVea had become histories first black heavyweight champion? How would Johnson be remembered? How would McVea be remembered? Would colored heavyweights have suffered as much down the road with less boisterous McVea breaking the color barrier instead of Johnson? Would Johnson be considered just another good fighter instead of an all time great had he not been the first black champ? I think there are both many assumptions and logical conclusions that can be drawn from these questions. What are your thoughts?

I'll have to consider that question a bit more. Suffice to say that McVey would have a higher rep and Johnson's a few steps back.......... Interestingly enough, but the Australians recognised McVey as the World Heavyweight Champion after he won a hotly disputed fight with Sam Langford, that was in their first encounter on Australian shores. Langford then beat McVey in several re-matches, and held that Belt for a long stretch, at least until he left Australia........ and went on to become the Heavyweight champion of MEXICO...... all remarkably true.

[JAB5239]

I'll have to consider that question a bit more. Suffice to say that McVey would have a higher rep and Johnson's a few steps back.......... Interestingly enough, but the Australians recognised McVey as the World Heavyweight Champion after he won a hotly disputed fight with Sam Langford, that was in their first encounter on Australian shores. Langford then beat McVey in several re-matches, and held that Belt for a long stretch, at least until he left Australia........ and went on to become the Heavyweight champion of MEXICO...... all remarkably true.

Im most interested in opinions on how posters think this would have effected colored fighters fighting for the heavyweight championship after such a scenario. Lets face it, as ground breaking a person Jack Johnson was he set black heavyweights back at least 20 years by taunting the white establishment one, and two, because he wouldn't defend against the best black heavyweights. Had the McVea-Burns fight had not fallen through heavyweight history might be totally different today assuming Sam won.

[Greatest1942]

Im most interested in opinions on how posters think this would have effected colored fighters fighting for the heavyweight championship after such a scenario. Lets face it, as ground breaking a person Jack Johnson was he set black heavyweights back at least 20 years by taunting the white establishment one, and two, because he wouldn't defend against the best black heavyweights. Had the McVea-Burns fight had not fallen through heavyweight history might be totally different today assuming Sam won.

I see a few things

1) The black heavyweights do not get frozen out after Sam's reign as I do not think he will perform the antics that Johnson did. meaning they get a fairer shake than they got

2) I do think Sam would have given other black heavyweights a chance, unlike Johnson, who never fought any black heavy when he was champ.

3) Sam Langford in all likelihood becomes champ (beats Sam Mcvea)

4) Dempsey if he has to duck Willis now finds a new excuse

5) And Lastly I will not comment on how great Johnson becomes. He might go on to beat Mcvea and then rule as he did to become greater even ( for having fought better competition) or loses to Sam, Langford and becomes just a good heavyweight...Its difficult..but I doubt he would have the historical impact he has now.

[McGoorty]

I see a few things

1) The black heavyweights do not get frozen out after Sam's reign as I do not think he will perform the antics that Johnson did. meaning they get a fairer shake than they got

2) I do think Sam would have given other black heavyweights a chance, unlike Johnson, who never fought any black heavy when he was champ.

3) Sam Langford in all likelihood becomes champ (beats Sam Mcvea)

4) Dempsey if he has to duck Willis now finds a new excuse

5) And Lastly I will not comment on how great Johnson becomes. He might go on to beat Mcvea and then rule as he did to become greater even ( for having fought better competition) or loses to Sam, Langford and becomes just a good heavyweight...Its difficult..but I doubt he would have the historical impact he has now.

It's possible that Jack Johnson could rate even higher, it has to be acknowledged that Johnson was better HW than either McVey or Langford,...... Johnson peoved that he was too big for Langford...... and Sam Langford proved his superiority over McVey..... I think Jeannette matches up better with Johnson, he is of similar build to Ali, and fights with his hands low, Ali style, I recognise that there were also big differences between Ali and JJ. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think McVey had a huge chance of beating the smaller Burns. We know more on how Langford, McVey and Jeannette fared against each other.... In concluding. Johnson just has all the physical advantages.......... Langford was smaller than the other three, but was much closer to McVey in size......... But The differences between He and Johnson was just severe....... Langford was closer in size to Young Peter Jackson than those guys........ apart from one shocking K.O. loss to Jackson, Sam more than made up for that with 4 victories over YPJ.