Ezzard Charles vs. Jack Johnson. 15 rounds.

Johnson generally carried his white oppenents - looked to me like he could've knocked half of them out in the first round - can you imagine the trouble he'd have got into if he had've blasted them all to smithereens? He had to make it look halfway decent didn't he by at least letting them stay in there a few rounds with him even if it meant litterally hanging onto them for 5 rounds - if he'd have brutalised them as badly as he could've he would've been lynched in those times

 

I think he did it on purpose. Although I wouldn't doubt promoters asked him to carry them just to keep the show going and not get the crowd to unruly. As well as selling future fights because the crowd will think..."he was in the fight and he almost got him...if only."

He seemed to enjoy it. Given the stories, he even talked to the fighter and the crowd as he was breaking them down.

This f*****g guy was a riot

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Oh, and remember when little Ketchel was being carried and broke the agreement. He paid for it within seconds.


I wonder if they still have the doc. on youtube.

 

The knock-down actually looks completely fake on film. Johnson seems to be well on his way down before the punch even lands.

Gunboat Smith said Johnson faked that KD to make the film of the fight far more valuable.

 

To think that i and my dad shook hands with jack Johnson in NY a few years before he died in a car crash, June 1946, driving his car to the second Louis/Conn fight. Was too shy to ask for his autograph...

 

I think I would put my money on Johnson.. I don't think he stops Ezzard because he was not a high volume puncher, which would also keep Charles in the fight with his shear activity.. Charles could out work him a score a decision victory but I am more inclined to think Johnson would step up his game and work rate and win on points..

 

I believe Charles would take Johnson. Charles skill set is far more advanced.

 

Perhaps. However, Jack Johnson embodied many of the same old school tricks, and counter traps Jersey Joe Walcott would succesfully use on Charles in all 4 fights. Maybe not with his feet, but with his feinting/upperbody. Charles is definitely susceptible to an ATG counterpuncher as shown in the Walcott fights. Now their are only a few in history who can lay claim to be an A + level counterpuncher in the heavyweight division. Jack Johnson is one of them. Johnson is also immensely strong, stronger than Walcott even. In close, I think Johnson will bully and rough up Charles..scoring with short barrages in effective exchanges. Charles will put on the occasional spectacular highlight reel 1-2, or double long left hook combination, but I see Johnson landing the harder punches in the fight, and I don't see charles being active enough to perhaps take advantage of Johnson's extreme defensive style. Interesting fight. Jack Johnson is severely underrated imo.



Johnson 15 majority Charles

 

Johnson. Bigger, incredibly complete defense, good at neutralizing leads... For whatever reason I think his style would match up poorly against Johnson.

UD Johnson

 

Jack Johnson,too strong for Ezzard Charles...Johnson by decision...

 

Good Post Swarmer. I agree.

 

A real borefest here........ Too tactical....... Johnson edges Charles over 15 dull rds of classical boxing........... JOHNSON!
bbb

MR.BILL

 

The physical strength is one of the biggest things. I see Johnson neutralizing that jab with his glove catching, getting inside and toying with charles in the clinches with his sticky hands infighting. It's just not a good fight for ezzard no matter how you slice it, he has all the tools to make charles suffer :-(

:deal

 

So Artistic Poetic boxing skill demonstrated at it's finest is boring to you? Perhaps you have been watching too much of 4/19/91...Too much wild swinging and dirty headbuts must have brainwashed you.

 

I don't know about using the word "toying". Charles was plenty strong, 180lb(A good 15lb heavier than burns and Ketchell) and a good inside fighter himself. I do see Johnson roughing charles up in close, and hurting charles with a few various shots..but "toying" reminds me of Johnson/Burns which I do not see it as being comparable. Johnson-Burns was too easy for Johnson. Charles is not an easy nights work for anyone.

 

I've just seen too many films of Johnson pushing around some pretty big guys(jeffries for example) and beating them about at wil in the clinches. I'm not saying Charles wont make a fight of it, but i think Jack successfully imposes his superior infighting skills and size in riddick bowe fashion(extra weight and size inside tiring out a smaler fighter) and just wearing charles out. Toying might not be the right word, but he would boss him around and control the pace , in my view.