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Originally posted by PBF34
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Oh Dude! Yes Johnson had defense. He did clinch a lot, it's true; but he also parried and blocked with his hands in "wax-on, wax-off" kind of way. Johnson was a waiter. He'd wait for his opponent to throw and fend off the shots. He had a great defense for the time. -
Johnson threw a lot of looping punches, because he usually had his left hand on his opponents forehead (fought lots of small guys) and hammered them with the right. As fast as Holmes was with his hands, I think he would have KO'd Johnson if he stood right in front of him, much less using the ring like he normally did. Styles just hadn't evolved very much by the time Johson fought, and they allowed alot of **** that wouldn't be allowed during Holmes' reign, like hitting a guy as soon as his butt isn't touching the canvas anymore, and don't forget, the gloves were like four or six ounces in Johnson's era, Holmes was using 8 and 10 oz. gloves and still KOing bigger guys than Johnson did.Comment
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He DOES deserve credit for inventing what is now known as the Ruiz defense lolOriginally posted by PBF34Comment
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Which is why he would be eaten up by a guy with speed.Originally posted by K-DOGG
For the time he was great, but comparitivly, he would get destroyed.Comment
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no way possible was Holmes the greatest.....its not even up for debate.Comment
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Destroyed, I really feel is too strong of a word. I've got a lot of respect for any man who wins the world championship, no matter what era in which he fought. Johnson was a very intelligent fighter; and I really believe he'd give any fighter who ever lived trouble. True, his style was very much developed for the type of offense of the day; but a year or so before he died he would regularly go into gyms with young fighters and challenge them to hit him....no one could. And he firmly believed he could have beaten Joe Louis. Much is lost over time...respect is one thing that is either lost or embellished; but I do believe Johnson was capable in any era.Originally posted by PBF34Comment
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Why so strong an opinion against the possibility? He held the title for 7 years, beat the best while making 20 successful defenses..only Joe Louis had more...and was 48-0 when he finally lost the title at the age of 35. Why couldn't he be the greatest?Originally posted by Hopkins#1Comment
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I just dont see how his credentials can hang with Ali's....and lets remember that Holmes era wasnt necesarilly the best.Alis era was tremendous and he beat everyone up until the end....no way is Holmes better then ali.Comment
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Ok then, why is he given so much credit for beating Jim Jeffries who had been reitred for some time and lost like 90lbs. to participate in a fight he had to be persuaded to take, and Willard is given no credit for beating a still active champion in Johnson? Willard was the first fighter with size and decent skills that Johnson faced, the first fighter that actually had a boxing style and was tall enough that Johnson couldn't hold him back with his left hand and hit him with the other, and Johnson lost. He did alot for his race but overall I don't think he's that great a fighter. People knock Marciano for not fighting huge guys, but don't knock Johnson for defending his title against a bunch of middleweights and a couple of big guys that make Carnera look like Wlad lolOriginally posted by K-DOGG
All I'm saying is try to keep it in perspective.Comment
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No way in hell was Holmes better then Ali its that simple.Comment
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