Jack Johnson in the 2000's

Kevin Johnson

 

I could see him easily beating Gassiev then dropping a decision to Usyk due to stylistic problems

I unironically think Johnson would beat Wilder

 

I may get in trouble for this. But I don’t think he would be the man. He may pick up a belt and even defend it with success but I think he would struggle and likely lose to Wlad Vitali and Lewis if the opportunity arose. I do think he would be on the level of Chris Byrd? Not meant as a knock but some may perceive it as such. I think he would box circles around a Tua or Ruiz. I guess for me he would be in the top 10 all decade and perhaps top 5 most of it picking up a strap or 2 but not be seen as the dominant fixture of the era.

 

Nope.

 

I'm sure the rules, the gloves, etc. is probably the biggest hindrance for him … And a year ago, Trump gives him a full pardon … He's already a winner

 

Johnson's problem today would be his work rate and size.If he stayed at Cruiser he would win a belt,Heavyweight would be problematical because of the size disparity.

 

Somebody as clever as Johnson would have developed whatever skill set he needed to be successful.

There is a serious possibility that he never goes into boxing, because he can make better money doing something else!

 

He did develop and patent a wrench.

 

Can imagine Jack at cruiser he'd be unbeatable .That is if he trained well and didn't play around .At heavyweight in the 2000 s ? He'd have his work cut out ,the guys were getting bigger by the new millennium ,so Johnson s at a size disadvantage .Skill s wise he's miles ahead but he's up against the weight and size problem .

 

Johnson would get whacked at heavyweight in the 2000's. The shorter boxers without a lot of power and reach have been mostly dead and buried in the land of much bigger, more powerful men, some of whom can box or move, almost all of whom can punch. Guys, the modern heavies are essentially two full weight classes ( sometimes three ) bigger than the 190-210 pound men of yesteryear.

Chris Bryd was highly raked, okay, but he had a good chin ( Johnson I think did not when someone landed ), a southpaw style, and IMO better defense.

The best comparison I see for Johnson is James Toney with some Hopkins like rule bending. Toney though talented was not good enough to beat Sam Peter. 0-2.

Honestly, Johnson might have been a musician or actor. He could play instruments well and seemed to interact very well with crowds. Or he could have been in prison, busted for dealing drugs or dealing trafficking women completely bypassing boxing altogether. Johnson's regard for the law was pretty low. If he was born poor, I could see his dark side getting him in trouble, especially in the land of cameras everywhere and social media.

 

I think that with some of these early boxers, there is a very real chance that they just go to university instead.

 

Very good post because because Johnson could fight at cruiser as he did straight thru winning the crown against Burns at 192 .. at cruised he'd be a champ for sure .. at heavyweight too small to beat the best of the best big men ..

 

He had the athletic ability to compete he’d have to change his style

 

Athletically he would and compete in any era. He's ring IQ would let him develop whatever style he thought would work best today it would be harder than his era but he'd get a belt imo