Monte Cox: Why Jack Johnson is Not as Great as You Were Told

[ShoulderRoll]

[GhostofDempsey]

A lot of his fans who criticize Demspey for drawing he color line forget that Johnson himself refused to give the best black fighters of his era a title shot once he was champ. Langford, McVea, Jeanneatte, Wills could not get a title shot from him. Johnson was often bigger than many of his opponents too. Joe Louis and Dempsey would have mauled him IMO.

[The Old LefHook]

Jack Johnny had a lot of courage. His daring-do put him in a special class for courage.

[ShoulderRoll]

A lot of his fans who criticize Demspey for drawing he color line forget that Johnson himself refused to give the best black fighters of his era a title shot once he was champ. Langford, McVea, Jeanneatte, Wills could not get a title shot from him. Johnson was often bigger than many of his opponents too. Joe Louis and Dempsey would have mauled him IMO.

Johnson at least fought them several times and beat them when he was coming up.

Not really the same thing as avoiding them altogether.

[HOUDINI563]

There is a reason why JJ was considered the greatest of all hwt champions. Yes he was that good. There is plenty of evidence that he tried to fight Jeanette and Langford. Issue was that promoters were offering much less $ and several proposed bouts were nixed by boxing commissions of the day.

[travestyny]

I enjoyed the video for the footage. Mostly it seems like just a critique of Johnson's competition. I haven't heard anyone try to argue that he would have been great if he was transported from the early 1900's straight into the ring in modern times, so the content wasn't really hitting on much for me.

[ShoulderRoll]

I enjoyed the video for the footage. Mostly it seems like just a critique of Johnson's competition. I haven't heard anyone try to argue that he would have been great if he was transported from the early 1900's straight into the ring in modern times, so the content wasn't really hitting on much for me.

I disagree with his take on this too. Just posting it as an interesting opinion on one of the old timers.

[GhostofDempsey]

Johnson at least fought them several times and beat them when he was coming up.

Not really the same thing as avoiding them altogether.

He also had a significant size advantage over Langford and McVea. Jeanette was somewhat green when they fought. Good defensive fighter for his era but indeed overrated. Jefferies was six years inactive and had to lose 100 pounds for their fight.

[Tom Cruise]

Overall I do agree there was significant development from the Jack Johnson era, to the JoeLouis one. In technique and ring craft there is little comparison, especially with the big men.

However, it is worth remembering what a different sport this was back then. Try fighting like Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali when a fight could go 30+ rounds. Ok you could win early, but you could also be worn down and tired out when you are barely into your 15th round.

Fighters back then were all about conserving energy. All that level changing, angle creating and explosive punching burns you out quick.

[The Old LefHook]

Overall I do agree there was significant development from the Jack Johnson era, to the JoeLouis one. In technique and ring craft there is little comparison, especially with the big men.

However, it is worth remembering what a different sport this was back then. Try fighting like Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali when a fight could go 30+ rounds. Ok you could win early, but you could also be worn down and tired out when you are barely into your 15th round.

Fighters back then were all about conserving energy. All that level changing, angle creating and explosive punching burns you out quick.

Read no farther!