Why is Jack Johnson a top ten heavyweight?

[Steak]

9 people actually voted no? LOL, thats why i rarely post here anymore. The only thing that is wrong with this forum is the posters, because they are ridiculous. You would never get this on esb. You take the first black heavyweight champion that there ever was, who fought and chased for his shot at the title, won the title, beat the best black boxers of that era( Langford, Jeanette, Mcve), beat the greatest fighters on that era, was one of the first to mix his offense with his defense, held the title for almost 7 years without a defeat and dealt with a lot of racism and there was a lot in that time, and say that he doesn't crack the top 10?. The man was absolutely brilliant, and i suggest some of you revisit your boxing history. I rank him at 3 behind Ali and Louis.

why is that a plus? I never understood why people cared about that. there would only be about a thousand other black heavyweight champions in the future...
John Ruiz was the first and only hispanic heavyweight champion. top 5 ATG heavyweight!

and the thing with the best heavyweights of all time is that generally they ALL beat the best fighters available to them, regardless of them being black or white.

and holding the title for 7 years doesnt mean so much when he only successfully defended it 8 times, especially when two of those title defences are draws.

and how much have you actually seen of McVea and Jeanette? I have a hard time believing theres much footage of either of them. and judging by their records, they dont exactly look to be the best fighters Ive ever seen. I hate to be a boxrec warrior or whatever, but when theres no footage of fighters available, how exactly am I supposed to be judging them? were McVea and Jeanette better than say Jerry Quarry? or Ray Mercer?

[slicksouthpaw16]

why is that a plus? I never understood why people cared about that. there would only be about a thousand other black heavyweight champions in the future...

Because he made history, and other African Americans like Ali down the road looked up to him. Same reason why Jackie Robinson is famous for being the first black baseball legend and inducted into the hall of fame.

and how much have you actually seen of McVea and Jeanette? I have a hard time believing theres much footage of either of them. and judging by their records, they dont exactly look to be the best fighters Ive ever seen. I hate to be a boxrec warrior or whatever, but when theres no footage of fighters available, how exactly am I supposed to be judging them? were McVea and Jeanette better than say Jerry Quarry? or Ray Mercer?

Their records don't lie, and they have beaten plenty of hall of famers themselves that were in their primes, on top of fighting regularly over 13 times a year . What hall of famers did Quarry or Mercer beat? Langford started his career at lightweight and was knocking out natural heavyweights, and he also is considered by many to being the best punchers of all time, and top 10 pound for pound of all time. Jeanette didn't get the challenge for the title because of the color of his skin, and he also has great wins over Langford, Mcvea and other top contenders of that era.

[El Dominicano]

Like a RAT F'ing up a Cat.

[Southpaw16BF]

Johnson had to come through so much adversity, to get what he achieved, He had a great defensive style and was also a great counter puncher and he also beat some great fighters including James J. Jeffries,Stanley Ketchel,Tommy Burns,Sam Langford. As a prime Iron Mike Tyson said when i wathcing him talk about Jack Johnson 'he was like a cat playing with mouse'

[Southpaw16BF]

[Steak]

Because he made history, and other African Americans like Ali down the road looked up to him. Same reason why Jackie Robinson is famous for being the first black baseball legend and inducted into the hall of fame.

I dont understand why being the first black heavyweight champ should heighten his ranking as a boxer. again, John Ruiz was the first Hispanic heavyweight champ. does that rank him higher in the slightest? I sure hope not.
as far as inspiring people, I dont think that should count either. all that should count is what they accomplished in the ring. ratings are just your personal preferences anyway, so I guess you could do it if you wanted to...but Mike Tyson probebly inspired a bunch of people to take up boxing as well, hes one of the most famous sports figures of all time. does that make him deserve a spot in the top 10 list?

Their records don't lie, and they have beaten plenty of hall of famers themselves that were in their primes, on top of fighting regularly over 13 times a year . What hall of famers did Quarry or Mercer beat? Langford started his career at lightweight and was knocking out natural heavyweights, and he also is considered by many to being the best punchers of all time, and top 10 pound for pound of all time. Jeanette didn't get the challenge for the title because of the color of his skin, and he also has great wins over Langford, Mcvea and other top contenders of that era.

Im not saying anything bad about Langford, but cmon...he was a blown up lightweight. he wasnt bad as a heavyweight by any means, but people discredit Marciano's win over possibly the best light heavyweight ever(Charles) just because he came from L Heavyweight.

and I dont really see that much in the records of McVea or video of him...and I dont understand why he would be in the HOF either.

not exactly the most impressive guy Ive ever seen. the boxing IBHOF has some really weird people in it sometimes anyway. like whats Barry McGuinen doing in there? and Jack Sharkey? and Jess Willard? really? guess its not such a big deal to be in the HOF...

[Southpaw16BF]

I dont understand why being the first black heavyweight champ should heighten his ranking as a boxer. again, John Ruiz was the first Hispanic heavyweight champ. does that rank him higher in the slightest? I sure hope not.
as far as inspiring people, I dont think that should count either. all that should count is what they accomplished in the ring. ratings are just your personal preferences anyway, so I guess you could do it if you wanted to...but Mike Tyson probebly inspired a bunch of people to take up boxing as well, hes one of the most famous sports figures of all time. does that make him deserve a spot in the top 10 list?
Im not saying anything bad about Langford, but cmon...he was a blown up lightweight. he wasnt bad as a heavyweight by any means, but people discredit Marciano's win over possibly the best light heavyweight ever(Charles) just because he came from L Heavyweight.

and I dont really see that much in the records of McVea or video of him...and I dont understand why he would be in the HOF either.

not exactly the most impressive guy Ive ever seen. the boxing IBHOF has some really weird people in it sometimes anyway. like whats Barry McGuinen doing in there? and Jack Sharkey? and Jess Willard? really? guess its not such a big deal to be in the HOF...

Yeah But everthing was against Johnson, the whites just cound't accept him as being heavyweight champion and would do anything to try and get that belt of him. Johnson would defeat some great Fighters and the stick he would take before hand were just damn right wrong. He also had a great counter punching style and a good defence.And by the way Langford was not your average blown up lighweight the man punched like a mule and don't be fooled by his 5'7 84kg build apperances don't mean everthing.

[Southpaw16BF]

I dont understand why being the first black heavyweight champ should heighten his ranking as a boxer. again, John Ruiz was the first Hispanic heavyweight champ. does that rank him higher in the slightest? I sure hope not.
as far as inspiring people, I dont think that should count either. all that should count is what they accomplished in the ring. ratings are just your personal preferences anyway, so I guess you could do it if you wanted to...but Mike Tyson probebly inspired a bunch of people to take up boxing as well, hes one of the most famous sports figures of all time. does that make him deserve a spot in the top 10 list?
Im not saying anything bad about Langford, but cmon...he was a blown up lightweight. he wasnt bad as a heavyweight by any means, but people discredit Marciano's win over possibly the best light heavyweight ever(Charles) just because he came from L Heavyweight.

and I dont really see that much in the records of McVea or video of him...and I dont understand why he would be in the HOF either.

not exactly the most impressive guy Ive ever seen. the boxing IBHOF has some really weird people in it sometimes anyway. like whats Barry McGuinen doing in there? and Jack Sharkey? and Jess Willard? really? guess its not such a big deal to be in the HOF...

And the reason people sometimes people diss Marciano's win over Charles becuase some thought he was a washed up fighter who's best days were behind him!

[Steak]

Yeah But everthing was against Johnson, the whites just cound't accept him as being heavyweight champion and would do anything to try and get that belt of him. Johnson would defeat some great Fighters and the stick he would take before hand were just damn right wrong. He also had a great counter punching style and a good defence.And by the way Langford was not your average blown up lighweight the man punched like a mule and don't be fooled by his 5'7 84kg build apperances don't mean everthing.

ok, lets put it this way...Langford is a great fighter. overall, he was probebly better than McVea and Jeanette. hes pretty much Jack Johnson's best win.
Im assuming Ali, Louis, Lennox, Holmes, Marciano, Liston, Holyfield, Ez Charles, Foreman, and Frazier are above Johnson. some people would argue against Holyfield and Charles.
yet Holyfield has beaten Tyson and Bowe. arent they better heavyweights than Langford?
Charles beat a fading Joe Louis and Walcott. arent they better heavyweights than Langford?

And the reason people sometimes people diss Marciano's win over Charles becuase some thought he was a washed up fighter who's best days were behind him!

and thats a legitimate argument, although I wouldnt have called Charles 'washed up', he was on his way out. still pretty talented, but hed seen better days.

[Arka]

Jack Johnson was a disgrace !!!! Why openly flaunt your relationships with white women ???? At least when Joe Louis cheated on his wife with Lana Turner and Sonja Henie,he had the good manners to keep it away from the public eye !
Wouldn't want the white boys feeling inadequate, now,would we?