Philidelphia Jack O'Brien gave Jack Johnson fits over the short distance.

interesting, so did O'Brien force Johnson to lead, if so surely thats a marvellous piece of ring generalship? and possibly should have won him a decision?

 

Reports I've read make note of O'Brien's superior speed and footwork. Opinions were fairly split on who "won", and the result is generally listed as a no-decision draw.

 

would you say he forced Johnson to lead in the kind of little greaseball vs bigger slower heavy or did he do through being a good ring general?

 

O'Brien was no joke...a skilled fighter...so was Johnson....6 rds hard to tell..the truth comes over in 15 bur Props to O'Brien

 

It might not have been billed as a title fight, but had O'Brien stopped Johnson or decisively gotten the better of him, a lot of people probably would've recognized him as the new champ regardless. That's the way things often worked back then.

 

so it is quite impressive. Ill need to research some more of O'Brien

 

The more you read about Johnson in print, the less impressive he becomes. O'brien, who was but a middle weight here appears to have edged the heavyweight champion of the world.

O'brien had speed and skills. I fail to see Johnson's vaunted defense helping him out in this fight. He was sin fact out jabbed by a much lighter and smaller man.

 

Then you must stop reading right now and attend Ken Burns' re-education camp.

 

:good

 

McGrain whereabout have you found stuff to read about him. Newspaper archives? articles? etc...

 

You cant believe what you read in the newspapers.

 

Over coming adversity out of the ring, yes. Performance in, not so much.