James J Jeffries vs Jack Johnson primes

Where those guys out of the ring for six years when Jeffries beat them and out of badly shape when the contact was signed?

The correct answer is no. No similarities what so ever.



I am interested to know when exactly was Johnson's prime? Some think his best wins were early, others do not.

So what years where they?

 

You could make a case for anywhere between the first Martin fight, and the Jeffries fight.

 

More rounds is more time for Johnson to frustrate Jeffries and cut up his face .
You haven't answered my question, Johnson is at least as proven over the long hauls as Jeffries is.

 

Both had had extended retirements.
1st fight Corbett was 33 and had been retired for18 months.
2nd fight Corbett was36 and had been retired for 3 years.
1st fight Fitz was 37 and had been retired for 2 years.
2nd fight Fitz was 39 and had been retired for 2 years .
On top of this we have to factor the huge weight advantages Jeffries enjoyed over both of them.
Now don't go ****ing up yet another thread state your pick and give your reasons ,show some courtesy to the O P there is no need for another of your Johnson hate fests here .

 

I am not citing Johnson lacking stamina, as a reason for the longer distance favoring Jeffries.

It is a matter of styles, and their likely strategy.

Johnson's plan would be to outbox Jeffries, while Jeffries would be looking to break Johnson down, and ultimately stop him.

You see my line of thinking?

 

The only issue with this line of thinking is, Johnson wouldn't be lifting Jeffries up to prevent a KD like he did toying with other folks. He'd be in the best shape in his life (as he was for the actually fight) and he'd know what was on the line. He wouldn't be okay just doing as little as possible to win as he did in other fights. He opened up more in their fight, and he'd do the same here.

 

I'm going to say Jeffries and I"ll tell you why, Marvin Hart . Hart may or may not have deserved the decision vs Johnson but what is for sure is that he gave him all he could handle by absorbing shots , applying pressure and firing away round after round .. . Jeff in 1906 was bigger , stronger, harder hitting, took a better shot, better skilled, better conditioned and at least as quick as Hart. Jeff's biggest mistake was choosing to duck Johnson in 1906. The ghost of Reno , self earned, has haunted Jeffries legacy for over a hundred years ..

 

I take Jim by K O

 

I think that if it turns into a war, then Jeffries is going to win, and I think that Johnson would understand this

 

Not what I'm saying. I don't say Johnson is going to stand there and go toe to toe. Though I think he proved he could hurt Jeffries and hurt him badly with his punches. He's not going to do that, but what I'm saying is, he's not going to be lifting him up preventing a KD. He's not going to be toying with him or be in bad shape for the fight. Thus he'll open up more, while still not taking a lot of punches in return.

 

I would imagine that he would be a lot more cautious against a prime Jeffries, and much less willing to take risks.

I also think that Jeffries would have been much more aggressive in prosecuting the fight.

Jeffries was the original body snatcher.

He rarely threw a punch to the head, unless he was going for the kill.

 

Yes, I believe I do,I don't think Jeffries has the versatility to break Johnson down,nor the one punch power to take him out with a big shot ,since I don't think he stops Johnson ,who was never stopped in his prime and I can't see him outboxing him, I must conclude he loses this fight.
I do think it would be a great battle maybe a forerunner of the Frazier v Ali FOTC, but I must pick Johnson to win a clear decision.

 

I can appreciate this line of reasoning though I think it is slightly flawed because I think Johnson was short of his prime.
Jeffries was certainly a better fighter all round than Hart,just how much anyone believes Johnson improved from this outing to his peak is personal opinion.I think the Johnson that was in the ring at Reno 5 years later, beats any version of Jeff.

 

I think Jeffries was way more talented, but Johnson maximised his talent way more, whereas Jeffries never really had to go much beyond his freakish natural ability.

I think it would be a real brutal attritional fight, Johnson would get the better early, but would Jeffries get to him? I don't think you can say, since Jeffries was never taken near his limit in his prime.

 

Just putting on to paper that Jack Johnson is entering this fight in the best shape of his life seems enough for me to pick him over Jeffries. My view is also likely tainted as Johnson for many years was possibly my favourite fighter and no doubt a hero of mine for managing to become the first heavyweight champion of colour.