Liston v Marciano's Top Opposition?

Compare what Johnson was doing over the timeframe of Jeffries winning the title.

8 fights in Jeffries was drawing with an experienced top contender in Joe Choynski

8 fights in Jack Johnson

10 fights in Jeffries was beating a shot Peter Jackson

Jack Johnsom 10 fights in was getting knocked out by a shot Joe Choynski

12 fights in Jeffries beat Tom Sharkey

12 fights in Johnson was drawing with Mexican Pete Everette

13 fights in Jeffries beat Bob Armstrong while his hand was broken

13 fights in Johnson was losing to Hank Griffin

14 fights in Jeffries becomes world champion by knocking out Bob Fitzsimmons

14 fights in Johnson is drawing with Hank Griffin

15 fights in and Jeffries beats Tom Sharkey again

15 fights in Johnson is beating Joe Kennedy

17 fights in and Jeffries beats a former world champion in James J Corbett

17 fights in and Johnson draws with Hank Griffin again.

I could add more, but I think it's clear enough. If this "what they did x fights in" is any way to rate a fighter, then Jack Johnson is a joke compared to Jeffries. We are literally comparing one of the fastest moved heavyweights in history in Jeffries to a relative late bloomer in Johnson. And no Johnson's win over Burns was not more impressive than Jeffries beating Fitz. Burns beat a Middleweight in O'Brien, Marvin Hart, and a bunch of 3rd raters. Fitz was levels above him beating Corbett, Ruhlin, Sharkey etc.

 

If no talent 185 pound Rocky Marciano could beat these people then Sonny Liston would destroy all of them easier.