From an earlier time when I was more active in posting to this forum: Jack Johnson had a lot of guts to stand up to white America in 1910. Just think of the personal courage it took to fight Jim Jeffries before an almost 100% white audience and to exchange barbs with Jim Corbett, Jack London and others at ringside while he was dishing out a beating to big Jim. It was the Real Deal Wild West in Las Vegas at the time and who knows how many guns were in the crowd. Nobody was asked to check them at the gate. And anybody could have shot Johnson on the spot.
Definitely. We've just seen Usyk completely outbox AJ, there's scope for Johnson to succeed against future champions, without doubt.
It’s ironic that some black leaders of the day denounced Johnson - believing that he should be a better “role model” and “example”’ for his people. Often, such role models are mere contrivances, profiles framed to please people NOT so much of their own race but to instead please those of the race hypocritically judging them via dual standards. In being himself Johnson actually proved to be the greatest role model and example for the people of his race. Not so much or at all a case of “Do as I do” but as guide to diligently “Be who you are”, to freely live your life and pursue your goals as much as any other person with due deference to the liberties of others. Ultimately, to live thusly, is the responsibility of each man and woman for themselves - just as Jack owned that responsibility for himself. Johnson was not perfect but neither was/is the next person and he was born into unjust life template at any rate - one that could lend to being less perfect than one might be otherwise given better circumstances and sociological placement. And yes, he was a GREAT fighter, well ahead of his time. Even Ali called him “Crazy”, LOL, - now that’s saying something - not least for the demonstrated and insane courage of the man. I remember reading that a friend of Jack’s was told that Lil Arthur had died of shock when he crashed his automobile. The friend replied “No, that can’t be true, NOTHING could shock that Cat!”
Great fighter, who may have been a bit too brave for his own good. Died 10 miles away from my mother's hometown.