Prime Johnson v Prime Langford,Jeannette,McVey

I would favor Jack to beat all three of them.

 

Johnson, they may have improved after he fought them but so did Johnson. Johnson's pre title win was very dominant against all the best black contenders.

I think usually the best man wins in boxing, usually, so yes I think he'd pull that off, I mean he sort of did anyway beating Jeanette and Mcvey countless times and dominating Langford

I suppose it depends how much we think they improved, I have a feeling it's a tad overstated because Jeanette and McVey were already picking up world class wins when Johnson was beating them

 

He probably beats Langford up to about 1910, and looses to him after that.

He probably beats McVea any time they fight.

Jeanette is a potential spoiler for him at any time.

So in summary, it is not so much a question of whether he could beat them all, as whether he would best them all in sucession.

 

Johnson was peak in 1910, he would have trained for a Langford fight and be near peak up until 1912, after 1912 Langford himself was past his prime. By 1915 both significantly past their best.

The talk of Langford overtaking Johnson in terms of ability is the biggest myth on this forum, it never happened

 

On a side note, this is how I would rank them in terms of resume:

1. Lagnford
2. McVea
3. Jeanette

This is how I would rank them in terms of the value of Johnsons actual wins over them:

1. McVea
2. Jeanette
3. Langford

This is how I would rank them in terms of the threat they posed to Johnson at their peaks:

1. Langford
2. Jeanette
3. McVea

 

I think Johnson beats them all, and I may be in the minority, but I don't think they would be tough fights. As they improved, so did johnson, and thus things would remain the same. It wasn't like he barely beat them.. he totally outclassed them in virtually every way... You just don't make up that wide a difference.. when johnson also filled out and got better.

 

Langford gives him the toughest fight prime for prime, always. Wouldn't bet against Sam winning 3 or 4 out of 10 fights against Jack.

Jeannette and McVey wouldn't be easy fights prime for prime either but I have Jack beating them both.

What about Harry Wills?

 

Johnson beats all of them handily...

 

In at least two of the three fights there would be a draw which 100 years later an army of apologists would explain away with their oft-used arsenal of excuses... poor shape, handcuffed, drunk the night before, staged, was not engaged in the fight...

Nothing new here.

 

Except that Johnson reign and pre title resume are still better than many people after him.. even your beloved Liston...