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Consider that Nat Fleischer, the founder of Ring Magazine, who saw Johnson fight and those up to the Ali era, said, in his book Black Dynamite “Jack Johnson boxed on his toes, could block from most any angle, was lightning fast on his feet, could feint an opponent into knots…he possessed everything a champion could hope for punch, speed, brains, cleverness, boxing ability and sharp-shooting.”
Fleischer also reported in 1958, that Johnson’s “mastery of ring science, his ability to block, counter, and feint, are still unexcelled.”
I myself regard Jack Johnson as the greatest defensive Heavyweight who ever lived.
The key factor to understanding the defensive mastery of men like Jack Johnson, Joe Gans, Sam Langford, and George Dixon comes in their ability to counter and block a fighter's leads. This is a key factor.
That is where the old masters and timers like Gans. Dixon and Johnson excelled.
You have to jab to get inside and to set up your punches and they could block and pick off an opponent's jabs and counter. Legendary trainer Eddie Futch once said, that Ken Norton gave Ali 3 very tough fights because he knew how to block a jab with an open glove and counter-jab.
People also tend to forget that Johnson fought often and with only 5 ounce gloves, his defensive skills kept his face largely unmarked. Unlike todays prizefighting, were the gloves are much more protected and padded.
This demonstrates just how good a defensive fighter Jack Johnson was.
John Durant wrote “He was a genius in the ring. He was a flawless boxer with an almost perfect defense, and he could hit hard with either hand. A superb counter puncher, he was never off balance, always in position to hit, and he was a master of the art of feinting."
This is another quote from Veteran fight manager Dan Morgan, who actually say the great Johnson fight saying, "I had a feeling he could demolish an opponent any time he chose."
This is a report from the second McVey fight.....
His fight with Al Kaufman
One of Johnson's most impressive performances was against the unbeaten James J Jeffries. Study the film closey, and Johnson in fighting, defensive abilty, timing, movement, just completey shut's out Jeffries.
Jack Dempsey said of Johnson “He was the greatest catcher of punches that ever lived (glove blocker). And he could fight all night. He was a combination of Jim Corbett and Louis. I’m glad I didn’t have to fight him.”
Another quote from Jeffries after being defeated by Johnson
''I could have never whipped Johnson at my best. I cound't have reached him in a thousand years''
Sam Langford on Johnson
''He [Johnson] gave me the only real beating I ever took"
This is just a little insight to how good of a all round fighter Jack Johnson was.
Fleischer also reported in 1958, that Johnson’s “mastery of ring science, his ability to block, counter, and feint, are still unexcelled.”
I myself regard Jack Johnson as the greatest defensive Heavyweight who ever lived.
The key factor to understanding the defensive mastery of men like Jack Johnson, Joe Gans, Sam Langford, and George Dixon comes in their ability to counter and block a fighter's leads. This is a key factor.
That is where the old masters and timers like Gans. Dixon and Johnson excelled.
You have to jab to get inside and to set up your punches and they could block and pick off an opponent's jabs and counter. Legendary trainer Eddie Futch once said, that Ken Norton gave Ali 3 very tough fights because he knew how to block a jab with an open glove and counter-jab.
People also tend to forget that Johnson fought often and with only 5 ounce gloves, his defensive skills kept his face largely unmarked. Unlike todays prizefighting, were the gloves are much more protected and padded.
This demonstrates just how good a defensive fighter Jack Johnson was.
John Durant wrote “He was a genius in the ring. He was a flawless boxer with an almost perfect defense, and he could hit hard with either hand. A superb counter puncher, he was never off balance, always in position to hit, and he was a master of the art of feinting."
This is another quote from Veteran fight manager Dan Morgan, who actually say the great Johnson fight saying, "I had a feeling he could demolish an opponent any time he chose."
This is a report from the second McVey fight.....
One reporter noted that McVey went through the "worst hell" ever witnessed in a Los Angeles prize ring. In their third meeting, Fleischer wrote, "It became pretty plain after the tenth round that Galveston Jack was the master." Mcvey took "blow after blow to the chin and Johnson kept sinking rights to the heart and left smashes to the stomach." McVey showed courage but, "In the twentieth round Jack decided he had punished Sam sufficiently and ended the contest with a right to the heart and a pretty left hook to the jaw." McVey took such a beating he decided he never wanted to face Johnson again.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Sep. 10, 1909 that "Kaufman badly whipped by Johnson in ten rounds. Kaufman hardly lays a glove on colored opponent, who is a marvel of cleverness." Johnson pitched a shut out, "All rounds for Johnson" the Chronicle reported.
Jack Dempsey said of Johnson “He was the greatest catcher of punches that ever lived (glove blocker). And he could fight all night. He was a combination of Jim Corbett and Louis. I’m glad I didn’t have to fight him.”
Another quote from Jeffries after being defeated by Johnson
''I could have never whipped Johnson at my best. I cound't have reached him in a thousand years''
Sam Langford on Johnson
''He [Johnson] gave me the only real beating I ever took"
This is just a little insight to how good of a all round fighter Jack Johnson was.
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