What did Jack Johnson think of Joe Louis?

Preach on brother I respect your and @BoxedEars boxing opinions

 

Fury ain’t no Klondike Haynes

 

Johnson was close friends with Sam McVey,who lived with Johnson and his Wife for a while,he was also friendly with Frank Childs ,and George Godfrey whom he mentored.

 

I remembered that the book Jack Johnson And His Times by Denzil Batchelor contained a few pages detailing Johnson’s opinions of his successors.

It included Johnson’s opinion of Louis - fast, accurate puncher, quick thinker, skilled in defence but (as already mentioned) Johnson criticised Louis’ stance - too heavy footed and rigid - and could be taken out of his stride by a clever fighter with a punch - and yes, he did of course pick Schmeling to not only beat Louis bit actually KO him - don’t know if Jack had picked against Joe previously though,

Interestingly, Jack picked Dempsey as the best of the bunch that followed him - he liked Dempsey’s concentrated energy - like a Sabre toothed tiger for the first 4 rounds, using great judgment to land the big punches - the only fault he noted in Jack was that, after 4 rounds, Dempsey downgraded to just another good fighter.

Internet Archive has the book. Jack’s appraisal of other fighter starts from Page 182: -


https://archive.org/details/jackjohnsonhisti0000batc/page/181/mode/1up

 

Couldn't disagree more but we're all entitled to our opinions

 

Blackburn resented Johnson for how his antics strengthened the color line—also in the lower weight divisions, despite the heavyweight king being supposed to represent the eugenics-rooted white supremacy, with lower classes being somewhat less scrutinized (correct me if I'm wrong.)

Johnson initially wanted to work with Louis, hut Chappy's presence and Joe's handlers aiming for the more acceptable, graceful ring persona prevented that.

Back then Jack was a hero, but the Black Cat was being eclipsed by Louis with whom he became more and more at odds. The story culminated with Louis-Schmeling I after which Johnson went on to flaunt the money on Harlem (Johnson bet on Louis losing.)

Police had to save Jack from the angry mob that once likely idolized him. His star was fading. And it was not until the civil rights movements reappropriated him as a symbol of rebellion and freedom that it rose again.

 

Johnson stipulated that if he trained Louis, Blackburn would have to go.
Roxborough told Johnson he had set black fighters back because of his antics.
Ironic when you think what a mean drunk Blackburn was, and the fact he shot and killed a man and wounded a woman.
Langford and Jeannette caught hell from the black community for predicting Jeffries would ko Johnson.

 

Wait, what is this? Johnson thinks Louis is "heavy footed"? Surely that can't be right? I mean, this board seems to think the opposite.

 

They didn’t like each other

https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/05/14/two-champions-and-enemies

 

Johnson loved to lay back and catch punches with his gloves, I can think of better traits for a fighter to have against possibly the greatest combination puncher of all time.

 

I can only relate Jack’s words faithfully.

I believe he also rated Jeffries and Corbett over all the HWs that came afterward.

 

Top post Mac. Blackburn was no angel.

Funny how referring the blame for suppression among the minority can actually feed into self subordination and perpetuation of that suppression.

I could’ve sworn it was the white folks, not Jack, who had already set black fighters back and did so with even greater effort after Johnson’s reign.

Johnson was self propelled. Who, among his fellow blacks, did him any notable favours on the way up that he was somehow obligated to repay?

As you said, even Langford and McVey picked Jeffries against him. I find it hard to imagine that they really believed that - but it certainly wouldn’t have hurt their standing among the whites.

The very moment the already well delayed Johnson won the title from Burns, the white establishment wanted him out. Jack was already well behind the starting blocks as Champion.

Yes, I can see how Johnson was to blame.

 

When he was in Australia, perhaps for the Burns fight, Jack visited the grave of Peter Jackson and paid homage. Johnson also paid for Sam McVey’s funeral and/or headstone I believe. Our own Mr @mcvey could elaborate or correct me on that I think.

 

Johnson would have dreamed of AI before he ever imagined facing a combination puncher like Louis. He’d get utterly smoked by Louis’ handspeed, power, accuracy & sequential shots.