"John, I thought this fellow could hit?"

Nice one, Matt. Thanks!

 

Is there any other sport where an athlete who hadn't competed for 6-years could go straight in against the best in the world, without a tune-up?

 

Ketchel had observed Jim's training camp and threatened to KO him during the introductions to save face for the white race.

 

Exactly, that's the story people tell, but the truth is even at the start of his exhibition tour - a year and a half before the Johnson fight - Jeffries was nothing like 103 lbs overweight. He was estimated to be around 260 lbs. Photographs show that he was fat, but not grotesque.

https://ibb.co/ZS5hStT

 

That is a good illustration of how Jack Johnson's psychological warfare worked.

He tried to make his opponent feel three feet tall.

 

John was never going to become a lawyer because he couldn’t pass the bar … any bar.

 

Johnson said the only time Jeffries landed a punch that really registered with him. was in the fourth round.
A body shot. He also said it was " the only time Jeffries did well."

 

The Luddites were a group of workers who caused some trouble in some textile mills or somethin in the 1700s. Broke a bunch of ****. Mostly its used today to describe ppl resistant to newer technology.

 

Before the fight it was proposed that they toss a coin, to see who would fight with the sun in their eyes.

Johnson said:

"Pick whatever corner you like Jeff. The outcome will be the same."

At that point he wouldn't have been sure whether Jeffries had much left or not.

He chose the psychological advantage over the more favorable corner.

 

Oh, Thanks for letting me know. I was tossing and turning all night like Bobby Lewis over it. Hopefully now I can get some sleep.

This content is protected

 

golf? Cricket? Poker?

 

Happy to expand on that period of history is anyone is interested.

 

Very good find! Obviously Jefferies was rusty and not ready for a world class fight after such a long layoff, but he evidently wasn't just some obese couch potato who hadn't engaged in any sort of physical activity to stay in shape. Sparring and exhibitions would have at least helped keep his muscle memory and timing somewhat decent. In regards to weight, the 2nd link says he was 235 in the spar which isn't even that far from his weight during some title matches in his prime (he'd only need to lose 10-15 lbs). People love to exaggerate.

I think Johnson would have always given him serious problems due to the clash of styles.

 

Jim wasn't going to beat that version of Jack anytime, anywhere, anyhow, at any age...

 

Just as well - lack of sleep can make you somewhat truculent. People often confuse Luddites with those little fellas in Willy Wonka.