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In Johnson’s day a jab was a power punch, rarely a tap like today. A jab then was a power punch that could, if landed full force, lead to a ko win.
What you see with Johnson is the transition from a jab as a power blow to more of a defensive weapon. Thus you see Johnson throwing both.Comment
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Yes he threw both... But there is more to the difference and it is relevant. Gloves used in Johnson's time were thin enough that weight transferred through punches through the gloves much more readily than when gloves held more padding.
Fighters of the classical times often look like they are hardly expending an effort when punching because when the body was in proper alignment one did not have to swing the arms so much. basically a lead was based on accuracy. You put the weight forward from an initial back weight position, sunk the body, and extended the hand naturally, usually to the button of the chin as the target... almost like a proper thrown wing chun punch.
When the lead hand hit, because all these movements basically happened at once, the energy would go right into an opponent if the arm was not bent at the elbow, the wrist held straight, and the fist clenched a bit on impact. Accuracy was the important thing. it is why when we see fighers of old posing they seem intent on showing a straight wrist, an elbow held in line close to the ribs, and a body not lurching in any direction.
One of the reasons the lead changed to the jab was with bigger gloves fighters had to find kinetic energy to replace proper alignment and timing... One way to do this was to snap the palm down on the strike in a twisting movement.
I think Johnson had a great lead and very fast hands. He also did turn the gloves over, especially when parrying a blow.Comment
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