Jack Johnson v Gene Tunney 15 rounds.

I agree. The press men are unreliable witnesses but not motivated by racism. More likely to be motivated by something that pays a bit better than bigotry.
I agree with rockysplitnose, o'brien is no match for Jack Johnson.

 

Mcgrain - O'Beien doesn't just look **** against Burns - he looks a total joke!!?? Like not even like a real boxer!!??? Like a skinny average 10 stone wet through mr muscle average joe who never even had a fight and is terrified of everything and doesn't realised he is not allowed to turn and run away??!! There is a BIG BIG BIG BIG difference in that and simply being a bit crappy one night - the Diran you mention probably would've annihilated that O'Brien himself with one hand tied behind his back - that was a total joke - what am I missing here??? Johnson wouldn't even break sweat against O'Brien - he probably spent the whole fight laughing at him and dragging him up off the floor like he did Ketchel (another guy who flattened O'Brien)

 

Could that explained why Johnson did not look so great ? Maybe he wanted to build O'Brien up as a bigger challenger for a big fight?

 

Oh yeah I'm sure O'Brien made Johnson look foolish hahaha - yeah ok nobody in his entire career made even look anything remotely close to foolish - yet O'Brien managed it did he?? Pull the other one!!??? That's utter bilge didn't happen who else in his 30plus year career even came close to making Johnson look foolish?? Yet O'Brien is made to look like a child running from an adult by the giant scary all dominating Tommy Burns (who himself was handled like a child by Johnson) yet O'Brien actually does all the leading against the 40pound heavier Johnson and puts all the pressure on him!!??? Right pull the other one mate - sorry but that is utter bs and if your unable to see that then more fool you

 

I tend to agree. I suspect the truth is somewhere in the middle. It could well be true that Johnson came in fat and let O'brien do most of the leading. I wonder what the press men of the day would have made of this ...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hrjBw7T5QE[/ame]

 

Johnson was past his prime in 1909, in his very first fight after beating Burns? At 205 pounds, he probably had a couple extra pounds on him, but he looked great against Jeffires at 207.

I like how actual results, facts and contemporary accounts have been tossed out the window in deference to 21st century preciousness and adolescent-like hero worship of fighters who happen to be, like everyone else, rife with flaws.

The fact is that O'Brien, with his style, frustrated Johnson, and received a generally unprotested draw over 6 rounds. Do I think O'Brien, in particular, would last 12? Immaterial. The fact is a guy with quick feet and quick fists had the kernel of the solution to Johnson's back foot, counter, charge and grapple style.

 

I think it's more a case of people looking at the surviving films of both fighters and making a reasoned guess that O'brien is not much of a threat to Jack Johnson. The only plain fact is Johnson boxed a 6-round No Decision bout with Jack O'Brien.

 

Yes. It was a six-round no decision fight.

 

Mcgrain - how do I explain the wins/draws etc versus said fighters?? That's just it I can't explain them!!?? Certainly the draw versus Burns was about as far from actually being a draw as the earth is from our nearest star - so if that could be scored a draw then god knows???!! How was Lewis-Holy 1 scored a draw I don't know either?? Fact is it wasn't a draw at all just like O'Brien-Johnson wasn't ever a draw in a million years

 

O Brien was kod five times . By Langford, Ketchel, Young Peter Jackson, Fitz and Al Limerick[when O Brien got cocky,]

Johnson floored Langford twice , broke his nose ,and closed his eye.
Johnson kod Ketchel for several minutes.
Johnson chased " Road Runner" Jackson around ,then halted ,and declared to the audience I would have liked to have shown you a fight, but my opponent wants to run not fight. Jackson did not win a round. .

Johnson kod an admittedly ancient Fitz in 2rds
O Brien lost to Jim Jeffords, and Al Kaufman , both Johnson victims.


Burns chased O Brien all around the ring with Philadelphia Jack refusing to engage.

Johnson toyed with Burns.


Why would any one believe O Brien would have a chance in a decision fight with a focused , fit Johnson?