Fact: Jack Johnson Agreed to fight Joe Jeanette for Championship Title

[JakeTheBoxer]

Interesting. So jack Johnson was not a cherry picker. he was willing to defend title against black fighters, just he couldn`t because of politics.

[ShoulderRoll]

Interesting. So jack Johnson was not a cherry picker. he was willing to defend title against black fighters, just he couldn`t because of politics.

That sounds about right.

Plus he fought and beat all the great black fighters during his era anyway, before he was champion. They are on his resume.

[Willie Pep 229]

Interesting. So jack Johnson was not a cherry picker. he was willing to defend title against black fighters, just he couldn`t because of politics.

What politics stopped him from fighting Jeannette/Langford in France circa 1914?

The French would have packed a stadium to see him fight Jeannette instead of Moran (summer '14). The fight was there, Jeannette was there in Paris, and Dan McKetrick was ready to promote the fight.

The 'color line' excuse does not hold water in France.

[HOUDINI563]

Johnson was getting more money for beating up white hopes than he could get taking on Langford/Jeanette who were more dangerous propositions.

White promoters scoured the country for white challengers they weren't interested in pitting two blacks for the title as they, Cofforth,Curley and Rickard, said they would not draw.
If Johnson had faced Langford in the same shape he was in for most of his challengers he would have stood a good chance of being defeated, if he was in shape he beats Langford.

Johnson didn't duck him per se, he signed to fight him twice, once in the UK before he became champ but he reneged on the contract once he had the title asking for more money, (he was offered $3000) but demanded the same purse as Burns had got [$30,000] for defending against him.

Johnson also verbally agreed to fight Langford in the US with a proviso that Langford produced a cash binder. Langford and his management failed to come up with the $$, and the match fell through.

Hugh McIntosh offered Johnson a two fight deal in Australia against Langford and McVey Johnson at first refused as the $$$ wasn't good enough. McIntosh upped his offer and Johnson accepted. Johnson then jumped bail and became a fugitive from"justice". McIntosh then withdrew his offer.

So while Johnson preferred the easy defences against white challengers that the White public wanted to see he didn't rule out fighting Langford or anyone else if his price of $ 30,000 was met.

So imo, you can't say he ducked Langford. You can say the White US public did.

[adeelkhan]

Thats amazing.

[Willie Pep 229]

Johnson was getting more money for beating up white hopes than he could get taking on Langford/Jeanette who were more dangerous propositions.

White promoters scoured the country for white challengers they weren't interested in pitting two blacks for the title as they, Cofforth,Curley and Rickard, said they would not draw.
If Johnson had faced Langford in the same shape he was in for most of his challengers he would have stood a good chance of being defeated, if he was in shape he beats Langford.

Johnson didn't duck him per se, he signed to fight him twice, once in the UK before he became champ but he reneged on the contract once he had the title asking for more money, (he was offered $3000) but demanded the same purse as Burns had got [$30,000] for defending against him.

Johnson also verbally agreed to fight Langford in the US with a proviso that Langford produced a cash binder. Langford and his management failed to come up with the $$, and the match fell through.

Hugh McIntosh offered Johnson a two fight deal in Australia against Langford and McVey Johnson at first refused as the $$$ wasn't good enough. McIntosh upped his offer and Johnson accepted. Johnson then jumped bail and became a fugitive from"justice". McIntosh then withdrew his offer.

So while Johnson preferred the easy defences against white challengers that the White public wanted to see he didn't rule out fighting Langford or anyone else if his price of $ 30,000 was met.

So imo, you can't say he ducked Langford. You can say the White US public did.

NO, what you can say is that he ducked Joe Jeannette. None of this argument holds water when talking about France, spring 1914. The fight with Jeannette was there, the money was there, the fans her there. Jeannette was there. Johnson ducked Joe Jeannette and American racial politics doesn't get him off the hook.

[HOUDINI563]

Was there a legitimate offer ($30,000 purse for Johnson or more) for Johnson to fight Jeanette in Paris that Johnson turned down?

[HOUDINI563]

Johnson was more than willing to fight Jeanette in 1912 but the bout was pulled. Hard to state that a fighter ducked an opponent he readily signed to fight. Also after watching Jeanette in action Johnson had nothing to be concerned about.

[Willie Pep 229]

Johnson was more than willing to fight Jeanette in 1912 but the bout was pulled. Hard to state that a fighter ducked an opponent he readily signed to fight. Also after watching Jeanette in action Johnson had nothing to be concerned about.

That's an interesting point -- in the one fight I saw of Jeannette (vs. Langford) I wasn't that impressed either (with either of them.)

The 1912 fight (in New York) is a good example of American politics getting in the way, no doubt.

[travestyny]

Ah. I think this should be updated since one of our resident scholars (aka ) was claiming that exhibition/no-decision fights in NY were necessarily non-title fights.

..E-X-H-I-B-T-I-O-N...F-I-G-H-T-S...A-R-E...N-O-T...T-I-T-L-E...F-I-G-H-T-S.

Welp...with what I just found in the previous thread I made, turns out that this is definitively proven false, and now no one can doubt that Jack Johnson offered Joe Jeannette a chance at the title.

Not only did Benny Leonard win the title in a no-decision/exhibition fight in New York....

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....but the Kilbane/Dundee fight in New York was also for the title according to Kilbane himself.

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It would have been poor headwork for me to have started mixing it right off the reel with the Italian. Dundee is a dangerous fellow, has a puzzling style and a damaging punch. I like to please the fight fans, but my title is worth a lot to me and I didn't want to take any chances with the Italian until I had solved his style.

I almost forgot why I had begun looking into Johnny Kilbane. What's interesting about the Kilbane/Dundee fight is that it was supposed to be one of the championship bouts to take place on the same card as the Johnson/Jeannette championship fight.

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It went on as planned...at the same venue, on the day that Johnson/Jeannette was to take place.



There can be no doubt anymore that Johnson agreed to fight Jeannette for the championship.