Not that long ago if one was a precocious youth who hung around the gym at a relatively young age, one might have been able to experience Jack Johnson up to Mike Tyson. Lets say that individual was 15 when he/she became a fan of Johnson and perhaps was able to watch him train, or was a trainer, yada yada.
If that person remained cognizant... Tyson became the youngest champ around 1986, 87. Its a stretch but that would put them at younger than our grandma... 87 + 15 = 102 years old. And if we kind of play benefit of the doubt.....lets say this individual is a smart kid so they could become a fan boy at ten years old...my boys have that kind of pluck, that puts us at 87 +10= 97 thats my dad's age.
Furthermore they could have caught Johnson in the middle, or even towards the end...not to be a stickler but for the purposes of this situation I want them to catch Johnson coming on the scene and revolutionizing the sport, then they can watch BlackBurn with Louis further revolutionize the game, changing the distances and combos from a fencing paradigm...
And finally to Tyson. That person would have a very valuable perspective! It would be interesting to see who they thought was the greatest. It may shock people! For example, people who saw Johnson up from the beginning of his fame, all the way up to Ali, many of these people when asked who they thought was the best heavyweight they picked....Dempsey!! these are trainers!!
The best fighter was never in question, so thats why I am focusing on the heavyweights.
At less than two years old I watched Walcott take the title from Charles. I was already an avid Walcott fan, so I did not cry that night. My mother says I fumed for days after Charles was given the decision in their next fight. When Marciano retired I would not go to first grade for a week. Oh yeah, I've got some boxing memories. Some of my boxing experiences even precede my memory. Others have to remember them for me. My mother held the radio to her belly in 1949 so I could listen to the Robinson/Gavilan rematch. She says I kicked up quite a storm during that one.
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