The two Jack's title runs ( Johnson and Dempsey ). Top 10 opponents beaten.

Fantastic post, as much as I love the guy, I'm not here to defend Johnson's reign, it was terrible, but what seperates himself from Dempsey and in fact nearly every other heavyweight champ is his body of work before he got the title round his waist.

 

While I think that Matt's rankings are very well researched, I submit that they are very broad in nature.

I do not think that either Langford or Wills was the #1 continuously over the period's credited to them.

 

I would take the circumstances into account there.

You might give the champion some mitigation, if the opponent that they beat before they were champion, was legitimately world class at the time.

Not so much if they were not.

I can give Johnson a pass for McVea, but not Langford.

 

This is where Dempsey's reign basically goes wrong.

Fulton and Wills were matched to decide who was the outstanding challenger for Dempsey.

Dempsey announced with a great fanfare, that he was dissolving the color line, and that he would fight both men if it was a draw.

He stepped away from the greatness that could have been his!

1920

Champion Dempsey
2 Wills
3 Fulton
4 Greb
5 Gibbons
6 Carpentier
7 Miske
8 Norfolk
9 Tunney
10 Weinert

 

Why not?

 

So Langford wasn’t world class in 1906 despite defeating a prime Joe Gans three years earlier?

Langford was 156 but Johnson was only 185 a 29lb difference

Jeffries was 206, fitzsimmons was 167. A 39lb difference

 

The Fulton win was icing on the cake, but wills had already established himself top dog Prior with his big wins over Langford Jeanette and mcvey in 1915-1916

 

What wins did Wills have over Jeannette in1915/16?

 

I think this a right on post,

but this part is a bit unclear.

"Johnson had done it for about 10 years. Plus he would go another 10 years before losing another fight!"

I think "losing another fight" is referring to the post Willard time span. So in other words he went from 1905 to 1926 clearly losing only that finish fight to Willard. Okay.

In fairness, though, while you point out accurately how dominant he was in the 1903 to 1910 era, it is diluted after 1910 by not meeting the best out there for the most part, especially after 1915. Johnson beat some decent trial horse types, but no one who would be at the top of the division during this period, and didn't fight any, except Willard, if he counts.

 

There is a distinction, though. Fitz was a world class heavy, in fact the heavyweight champion.

 

Who is Matt D? Who are you talking about? Just wondering.

 

Well in 1914 he had two draws, but the second fight the AP New Orleans Item had wills winning the decision.

In 1916 Langford flattened Jeanette in 7 rounds and Wills beat Langford multiple times right around that same time.

 

Langford was obviously not a world class heavyweight in1906!

 

He had no wins at any time ,yes or no?

 

Does it really make a difference ?
Both are /were great fighter s that changed the face of boxing .That's why their talked about today .Who they fought is more important than who they didn't IMO .
Take out Johnson and Dempsey of boxing history and its a damn sight poorer .