This one puzzles me .... Johnson-Hart-Burns-Johnson

????

It’s not applying a modern template/standards to a turn of the century fight IF that’s what you’re trying to say.

Repeat, who else, as ref (and promoter in this instance) exactly stipulated to Johnson as to how he should fight in order to win based on a singular criteria?

Subbing in Hart for Ali obviously meant that Hart (and his preferred “style”) was the guy that the sole judge on that occasion was heavily biased toward.

If Johnson’s corner told him to do more it
could very well have meant that they they knew he had to do well above what would normally be required to secure the win.

See Bivol vs Canelo.

Though winning going away going into the final round, had Biviol not won the last round against Canelo that fight would’ve been inexplicably called a draw on the cards.

So sub Hart in for Canelo also, if you like.

Both Greggains and most, if not all spectators, were heavily pro Hart before first bell.

Greggains was the anomaly in his own time who corruptly interrupted Johnson’s well established trajectory toward the title.

Johnson beat the **** out of Hart but Marvin was awarded the fight for “aggression”, albeit by and large ineffective.

Anyone saying that Johnson probably should have been DQ’d in other fights for excessive holding/clinching are actually the ones trying to applying modern standards to an early era fight.

I’ve never slept on Tommy Burns. I’ve sung his praises many times and not least for the fact that he did face Johnson - something Jeffries couldn’t muster himself to do until he was hounded back from out of retirement to reclaim the title for the White population.

Noah Brusso was not Sam Langford but he was of similar height, terrifically well reached and carried some serious pop for his size - traits somewhat similar to Sam’s.

He was also Canadian and I like Canadians, so there’s that to be getting on with also.

Tommy Burns - the Caucasian Sam Langford?

Okay, not quite but he has been underrated and was more than the footnote literature often paints him as - he was also a very brave little mother ****er.

 

It has me re-reading Adam’s book also - primarily the section on the Johnson - Hart fight.

In later life, didn’t Burn later regret and retract his heavily racist position? If I’m right it’s an interesting evolution of character.

That we have photos of both Sullivan and Burns shaking hands with Johnson is very cool.

Boxing Day in OZ is often notoriously hot - but I can’t say for sure what the exact temp. was for the fight.

Hard to judge by how the spectators were clothed - it seems they often suited up, even in unbelievable heat back in the day.

 

This is another great photo (see below) that I read a backstory for in one of the old Boxing Mags.

Apparently Braddock changed his position in the line up or went straight to stand alongside Johnson.

Either way, Braddock spotted Johnson standing on the left flank alone - certainly removed from the cluster of ex HW Champs on the right.

So it seems that Braddock expressly chose to stand alongside Jack.

Can’t vouch for the back story 100% but if true, it was a great sentiment on Braddock’s part: -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/182452077024

 

Entertaining or not, Johnson won his last two fights in San Fran.

I believe his last two fights prior to Hart were sufficiently impressive in their own right.

The fight between Johnson - Hart reads as somewhat entertaining in itself.

If Johnson truly stank in his last two fights in San Fran, there was little to convince potential spectators that he would fight any differently.

There was a carrot for Hart (possible title shot) but not for Johnson.

On the eve of the fight or near enough to - Jeffries and/or Brady reaffirmed that Johnson would not eligible for a title shot any which way.

The way it was framed, be it officially or unofficially, Johnson could only win via KO with Hart only having to ensure that he himself was still standing after 20 rounds to secure the win.

Of those who could rationalise Hart being awarded the win, their rationale was primarily based on Greggains unjust criterion, advertised before the fight.

The fight was all about Hart and for Hart, setting him up for a chance at the title, a chance that only he was eligible for, not Johnson - and a Hart victory would provide for Greggains being a potential promoter of a Jeffries-Hart fight.

A win for Johnson held promise for no one.

There was natural concern re the promoter Greggains refereeing/judging the fight also.

Johnson and his team expanded their options to Graney and Welch as possible refs but Hart wanted ONLY Greggains as ref. Hmmm.

Interesting that a win over Johnson could be so agreed upon and celebrated by the white, anti Johnson spectators BUT with Hart still ultimately being deemed not worthy to face Jeffries himself.

Ultimately, it reads as if Harts sole function/role in the bigger scheme of things was to cop a corrupt decision win over Johnson, no more, no less.

Post fight, Greggains claimed that it was just a few jabs that marked up Hart - but the round by round clearly indicates that Johnson gave Hart a good beating around the head from start to finish.

Hart himself said that Johnson’s left gave him the most trouble.

All things considered, imo, it was definitely an absolute stitch up/robbery.

 

Braddock ,from what I have read abhorred racism.

 

Greggains career as a third man mostly centred around arenas he had a financial interest in.He was not regarded as on the level as Charlie White , George Siler,or Jack Welch,and as the promoter he had a vested interest in favouring the more fan friendly, and white Hart.

 

Thanks Mac, I didn’t know that. I’m going to try and read up more on Jimmy.

 

I’ve only ever linked photos that are already online.

You may already know how to do that - just click the paper clip symbol above the reply window pane and paste in the relevant link.

I think??? your own photos have to be uploaded to your own private site online (facilitated by Imgur for one example) and then linked from there - as per the first paragraph.

@Serge is proficient in theses matters and he might be kind to enough to provide more specific details as to how to put your own photos up.

Btw, we’re only talking clean photos though HE, nothing sordid.

 

Thanks Serge. Very much appreciated.