Promoter Sunny Jim Coffroth Explains Why No Johnson v Black Challengers InThe US

"Sunny Jim" Coffroth , the leading promoter of his time gave this interview to the French Sporting Magazine" La Boxe" in 1911.Explaining why he never tried to make a Johnson defence against a black challenger.
"It would be impossible in the USA to match Johnson against one of his black Challengers,likeSam Langford or Joe Jeannette.It would be a great fight,the two negroes would not miss the opportunity to inflict the necessary and sufficient hiding that we would be entitled to expect from them.But the problem is that in America,they would not stand a chance of success.Why? For the only reason that the Blacks are hated in America.A fight that would put two of them face to face would not attract big crowds".

 

The largest French purse for a Johnson's defence was less than Johnson's asking price ,[$30,000] for a title defence.Theodore Vienne offered a purse less than that and it was a for a 20rds bout against Joe Jeannette.
Hugh McIntosh offered Johnson $45,000 for two defences against Langford and McVey,included in the deal were 5 round trip tickets,accomodation and a % of the film rights.Johnson cabled McIntosh his acceptance of the offer,but when he jumped bail, public opinion in Australia turned against him and McIntosh pulled the plug on the deal,writing an article in a daily newspaper explaining why.
The purse for Johnson to defend against Langford in the UK at the NSC was a miserly £5000. Well short of the now champion Johnson's price for a title defence.
The Covent Garden based NSC never offered big purses,for example they only offered $50,000 for the Johnson v Jeffries fight! Rickard secured the promotional rights for that fight with a bid of $101,000.
Johnson was rapidly becoming persona non grata after his court conviction and a proposed defence against Bombadier Billy Wells was quickly dropped after pressure from Church leaders in particular Dr Rev F B MeyerSecretary of the free ChurchCouncil and the leader of the Uk Baptist Church and some politicians on the Home Secretary Winston Churchill.Their rationale was the possibility of colonial unrest in the British colonies should Johnson win, which of course was almost a guaranteed result!

Tickets for this fight were actually printed and were selling well before this.The fight was to have been promoted by a Lancashire financier named James White, the fight to take place at The Empress Hall Earls Court over 20 rds, one of the supporting bouts was to have been Georges Carpentier fighting in an eliminator for the European Welterweight title.
Leading promoter Barney Curley stated," two blacks won't draw flies."

 

Curley was referring to the US which I should have thought was obvious. If two blacks were big draws in France how come a $30,000 purse for Johnson to defend against one was never forthcoming? Johnson agreed to fight Langford provided Woodman came up with a cash binder.Woodman could not get the money up its all in Pollack's book including dates, amounts ,promoters ,and venues. Johnson signed to fight Jeannette in NY twice that is a matter of public record.The NYA threatened to revoke the licence of any promoter who put on the fight.That is alos a matter of public record. The would be promoters of the title defences,the McMahon Brothers took a age in the NY Times explaining why they were not going through with the fights.I've posted these and the NYAC Chairman's statement several times.
Johnson accepted the offer of two title defences in Australia against McVey and Langford ,these were cancelled by the promoter not Johnson.All verifiable and a matter of public record.

If Johnson had defended against Langford he would have been," milking his title against a shorter lighter man ,"would he not?lol

Up until Joe Louis' reign, the average weight of Johnson's challengers was the heaviest of al heavyweight champions!
Johnson did not draw with O Brien, it was a No Decision bout,as in No Decision is given!
Johnson drew with Battling Jim whilst fighting under the handicap of a broken arm.
I've corrected you on all this many ,many, many times, but ,like Johnson being knocked halfway through the ropes in a sparing session against GunBoat Smith,which you turned into a tko loss.You will continue to repeat these lies all the time you draw breath. It's who you are.

Now I made this thread to provide a little information to those who might be interested in the circumstances surrounding the White Hope Era, not to give you an opportunity to vent more hatred and lies about a fighter who has been dead for nearly 90 years.

If you want a hate Johnson thread ,make your own!

 

I'm fine thanks R.Confined to the house at the moment, we are snowed in. Hoping the local airport is operational for next Monday as I'm flying to Palermo for 5 days.

 

I've repeatedly asked for primary sourced verified offers of $30,000 for Johnson to defend his title against McVey,Langford ,or Jeannette,that Johnson ignored.In the 12 years I have been here, you have produced NONE!


If Clay were reading he would tell you that Woodman could not raise the money, I know this because it's in his book! I also know that Clay picked Johnson to beat Langford prime for prime .He not only told me that in a private conversation, he said it on this forum! Now if you have nothing constructive or informative to add to the thread, just take your bigoted hate and depart.

 

Here is an extract from Clay Moyle's biography of Sam Langford which should be required reading for anyone interested in Sam.
September 21st 1910.
" The debate ended with Johnson telling Sam that he would remain in the city for several days and would cover the money anytime within that timeframe that Sam posted $20,000.He then added that he felt a fight between them would not draw well.
Despite the hostilities the talks ended with the two men posing for pictures.
Ultimately Sam and Joe were either unwilling or unable to post the $20,000 demanded by Johnson.
As a result they missed out on what later proved to be the last real opportunity to get the champion back into the ring" . Page 179. Sam Langford by Clay Moyle.