Jeffries: "I could never have whipped Jack Johnson at my best" Credible Quote?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by guilalah, May 9, 2011.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Because of the huge amount of opportunity that lay outwith the sporting world for black men in this era? What? You think these guys were like "**** boxing, i'll be a chartered accountant, four years school and then the bucks start rolling in." That's daft. There was more opportunity in boxing I would bet.

    Tell that to Burley and Marshall, likely two of the four most talented fighters in their era full stop and unable to get a title challenge. I also think it is very very very difficult for the am stars locked behind the iron curtain to get a shot - this decimates the talent pool compared to other eras. Pretty hard to take these black champions seriously, isn't? There are many top Cuban pro's now, how many of those great Cuban stars weren't allowed to compete? Not to mention Soviet, Polish etc etc etc.

    No title shots for these guys. Couldn't even get a pro fight!

    Yeah, inspite of evidence to the contrary.

    Anyway, more races and places are involved with boxing now than ever before. I guess this must mean that Cotto is better than Robinson or something. Not that Robinson matters - I don't believe boxing was legal in certain principalities of China at that time.
     
    McGrain, May 10, 2011
    McGrain, May 10, 2011
    #46
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Interesting to note that the best HW's of the last decade are white as much white as black and also that the best HW's now are from the ex-Union. I don't think that it is a coincidence that this comes 10 years after the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the begginings of the ex-Soviet bloc's involvment in proffessional sports.

    Speaking personally, this makes it very difficult to take the black champions of preceeding decades seriously.

    After all, one would have to presume that Klitchko types would be dominating all boxing if it wasn't for the fact that they had far less opportuinty to take part in sports than the repressed black American of the early 20th century.




    Disturbingly you do get the occasional white supremacist popping up on General claiming this kind of thing.

    I can't see that what you are saying is any more sensible tbh.
     
    McGrain, May 10, 2011
    McGrain, May 10, 2011
    #47
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    I think you are drawing some far reaching conclusions here. Although the colour bar was present in the heavyweight division over the period you identify, it was largley or completely absent in the lower weight classes.

    Despite this, the ethnic composition of the fighters thaqt dominated the lower weight classes, was exactly the same as that of the heavyweight weight class over the same period.

    Another thing that you have failed to note, is that the rise of the black contenders has been far from a consistent trend. There were far more talented balck fighters in Jack Johnsons day, in all weight classes, than there were in the 20s, or 30s.

    As others have said, by your simplistic logic you would have to conclude that black fighters only dominated the heavyweight division for much of the 20th century, because fighters from comunist countries were excluded. Lets face it, the former communist block took over prety quickly once they were alowed to compete.
     
    janitor, May 10, 2011
    janitor, May 10, 2011
    #48
  4. SonnyListonsJab

    SonnyListonsJab Active Member Full Member

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    Rocky Marciano was the first white heavyweight champion to consistently defend his title against top black contenders. Not enough is made of this.
     
    SonnyListonsJab, May 10, 2011
    SonnyListonsJab, May 10, 2011
    #49
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Actualy a great deal is made of this.

    It generaly takes the form of attacks on legacy.

    Pachillies hates Jeffries because he drew the colour line, and I can live with that, but a lot of the most venomous attacks directed at Marciano are because he beat all the top black contenders of his era.
     
    janitor, May 10, 2011
    janitor, May 10, 2011
    #50
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