If fights back then were 15 rounds: how long would jack johnson have lasted as champ?

you seem to be forgetting that Johnson gave Langford the worst beating of his life and very nearly killed Langford. yet your saying Langford past prime would defeat Johnson

Johnson would have schooled Greb like he did with Tommy Burns

What i find amazing is how so many on internet boxing forums come out with "coulda, woulda shoulda" of how Langford, Greb & Burley would, could & shoulda done this that and the other to all the great fighters of the past. yet the reality of it all is that those 3 fighters did not do nothing during their careers to suggest they was ever capable of doing anything other than get beaten by the greats of the sport. Boxing Historians do not and never did hold those 3 fighters in the regard which they are held today by so many on these forums. The footage which is available of the 3 fighters IMO shows why those Boxing Historians thought so little of them when comparing them to the likes of Dempsey, Tunney, Johnson & Leonard. they are a myth who have been brought back from the dead by recent biography's being written on them by young unknown writers who go completely against the grain of old Boxing Historians and Trainers etc.

 

You're officially a joke!!

 

It's actually a little surprising to me that Jack didn't exploit the advent of WW I by holding up the title until after it concluded. Looking at the Havana footage, it's hard for me to see Willard stepping up the pace as needed to prevail within the classic championship distance, and this is one of those bouts which convinced me that the championship distance should not be longer than 15 rounds.

Langford was convinced Fulton would be the next heavyweight champion after Fred stopped Sam in June 1917, and Fulton-Willard is one of those HW Title bouts which should have taken place. But would Fulton have been able to take it from Lil' Artha'? He could hit with both hands, but certainly didn't have the durability of Big Jess. And without footage, we can't accurately gauge his skills. But if a knockout was required to dethrone Johnson, he had the combination of reach and power to maybe pull it off.

Carl Morris? Had the size to sell the public on, and was rolling between April 1915 and April 1917. Decisioned Battling Levinski over the championship distance in November 1916, for the requisite win over a master boxer, albeit a smaller one than Jack. Only McCarty produced a non-controversial stoppage of Morris prior to 1921.

 

Until he was killed in 1946

 

Hard to say considering 2 of his defenses were draws over 6 and 10 rounds, respectively. Chances are Jack would have a letdown against someone he shouldn't have much like he actually did with Willard.

 

Considering he was able to handle a top contender in sparring in 1923, I tend to agree.

 

" I can't tell you how hard Firpo can hit,I didn't let him hit me".Johnson.

 

How old was Johnson then...45?

 

Well if Johnson beats Willard, he will still be on the run, meaning anyone who wants to fight him has to travel. I could see Langford finally getting his chance and being too old. Which would be interesting because it would mean that He would have beaten langford when Langford was both too old and too Green! I think Dempsey is the big chance, and would beat Johnson, but would the press want the fight? Dempsey was not big, and the press, like today like big fighters. I dont think Fulton would be good enough, and Johnson would either stop him, or he wouldnt be sent to fight. Remembering that Johnson would be fighting once or twice a year. Carpentier would be a definite fight some time around 1916. Actually I have to wonder why Johnson Carpentier didnt happen. Johnson would beat Carpentier, who i think would be the white heavyweight champion. I think that realistically, Dempsey would end up being crowned the heavyweight champion, and Jack Johnson would barely fight. And when he did it would be against guys like Tom Cowler, who he fought anyway. And of course Firpo would have been a huge money making fight. It would however, at some stage set up a Dempsey Johnson super fight to end all fights (probably in Australia) and, of course, i think that age would catch Johnson in this fight somewhere in the 20s. But he would make enough money from it, that he wouldnt need to keep fighting as long as he actually did.

 

Good Post! I don't rate an old Johnson's chances against a mature Dempsey , Johnson was a faded force after the Willard fight ,which I think was a damn good swan song at top level really.Johnson's life style meant that his legs and stamina were not at their peak after 1910, brandy, pork chops ,cigars ,and plenty of that stuff that little boys like, are not conducive to keeping in shape.

If Langford had been in the other corner ,when Jack beat Moran there might have been a new champ crowned, then again a 36 year old Johnson would have made damn sure he was in shape if Sam was in the opposite corner.