Educate me on Jack Johnson!

I had expected more replies to be honest.

I think maybe those who know JJ well or at least well enough to confidently speak to his career, are a little bit lost for what context you want to know. Because the dude is still very popular.

I'm just going to do like a brief overview.

JJ cleared the deck before he became champion.

He has wins over most if not all the names from the colored champion leagues. Yeah, what I'm saying is charges of ducking are time based. He fought everyone, at best you can say things like but X was new and by the time he was ready for Jack, Johnson fought white guys instead.

The great white hope story is famous as ****.

His ducking other black fighters because white hopes paid more is also famous.

His relationship with American law, white women, cars, bass guitars, mixed raced clubs, and attire are all still super famous.

His fleeing American law is well documented.

Just not sure what there is to say about the dude. Some folks think he should have fought Sam. Some folks think Dempsey should have fought Sam. Nevermind these champs are a decade apart. Get me? Sam's so ****ing great of course fans are still bitter he never got a chance at the lineal is really all that is.

If no one else does it I guess i'll go fight by fight for you and give what commentary I can. seems a bit much though dude, I don't mean to be condescending so before I do that I want to make sure that's what you want.

 

It’s a fair observation to say that Johnson held quite a bit.

I think holding was that much more allowable back in the day - if a ref had any excuse to DQ Johnson for same, many would’ve done so but it didn’t happen.

Accepting the allowance of more clinching back in the day, I view Johnson’s clinch game as somewhat of an art form in supplement to his pure boxing skills.

He could lock his man down so easily, using both natural strength and technique, targeting pressure points.

I think Johnson could be equally offensively and defensively adept without same (but requiring more effort on his part of course) but since it was allowed, it made things so much easier for Johnson so he naturally utilised clinching/grappling.

Jim Flynn was wrong off course to have laid so many head butts on Johnson but Flynn’s frustration and reactive fouls weren’t without some measure of reason.

I’ve read that Flynn trained to head butt but, tbh, Flynn appears ready and wiling to fight clean when not being held so snugly by Lil Arthur.

When Johnson was willing to open up on Flynn, his blindingly fast, two handed combos are something to behold.

He also displayed a sharp and hurtful jab throughout the fight. At one point his repeat, rapid fire jab made Flynn’s mug bounce like a bobble head.

Johnson also possessed one of the finest uppercuts - requiring next to no room or body movement to launch it and giving little hint that he was about to pull the trigger on it.

At least as at 1910, Jeffries proved to be an absolute sucker for that punch, which violently ripped his head up and back time and again.

I’m not sure that Johnson would have enjoyed any less success with that pivotal punch against a prime Jeffries.

 

Here’s a vid on Johnson that doesn’t come up at the top of the list when you search for same - so likely less often seen.

Some really cool footage including what appears to be the complete footage of his war bond rally sparring exhibition with Joe Jeanette.

This content is protected

 

Top Notch Post P!

 

Thanks Mac. How are you doing? I haven’t noticed you posting much lately. Hope you’re all good.

 

I'm okay Pug, been holidaying in Mauritius.

 

Good stuff mate!