Give credence, or at least some kind of perspective and grounding to fighters of the past seemingly slaying giants? Of them being able to almost mythically carry their power up against larger fighters? We've got the film Dempsey/Willard. Dempsey was a heavyweight himself, so that's not really what I'm speaking of. Instead, fights like ex-Welterweight knocking out Harry Wills with a single punch. Middleweights Joe Choynski knocking out Jack Johnson with a single shot. Barbados Joe comes to mind as well.
Are you comparing the physical difference between Choynski and Johnson to the physical difference between Pacquiao and Hatton?
You're aware that Johnson was one of the strongest heavyweights of all time, yes? Choynski was a child compared to Johnson physically. Johnson used to ****ing bend horseshoes into pretzels, hold back a horse with each arm in a strap, and he was bending Jim Jeffries hands between his back and then punching him in the face. So, yes. There was a far bigger gap physically between a man who had no bodyfat on him at 210 pounds if not more. There was a FOUR pound difference between Hatton and Pacquiao on fight night, if you're not familiar with the vastly different weigh in practices on now and then.
And to go even further, there was a bigger difference between Johnson and Ketchel then there was between Pacquiao and Hatton as well. Ketchel still knocked him down.
That's exactly my point: Choynski was facing a vastly bigger man in every respect, not just weight. Hatton had been weighing more than Pacquiao for a long time, but their other physical stats are almsot identical. Compare a tale of the tape between the two.
One of the strongest heavyweights of all time, in his own time, yes. That happened in 1901, when Johnson probably weighed around 170-180lbs. Choynski was around 165-170lbs himself. So, while he was a bit bigger, he was by no means fighting the 210lbs, cut version of Johnson. It seems however that Pacquiao molded almost perfectly into his 140lbs shape. If you didn't know anything about his past, you'd say it was his natural weight. His legs are huge. Some guys naturally put on a lot of weight going into their 30's and Pac is one of them. ..... back to Johnson vs Choynski, i think it's quite a good example or comparison, but not for the reasons you stated. Choynski had a slight size disadvantage but still knocked Johnson silly. By the way, here is a 100 year old photo of the two that almost seems made specially for this thread: This content is protected
That was as big as Choynski ever got, however, where as Johnson was FAR larger when properly eating. He was bigger and more importantly, stronger.
Sure, but my point is that when they actually fought, the difference, while in Johnson's favor, was marginal. Wouldn't you agree?
Johnson was a supermiddleweight in weight when choynski fought him. Same size, except jack was horribly green. This win means diddley poo. choynski would have got tossed around like a rag doll and embarrased by the cut ripped 205lb jack johnson of 1908. What Johnson did to Ketchell, Burns, and Langford he would do to Choynski.
Jack Johnson must not have weighed much more than 168 at the time (that's how much he weighed against Jim McCormick). I'm more impressed with Choynski going to a 20 round draw against Jim Jeffries who was said to have weighed around 220-230.
