Ali & Cosell on boxings heavyweight greats

Nah man, you can't polish a turd. Baer in those videos, specifically in the Carnera fight showed as much technique as Charlie Zelenoff, it's down right embarrasing to watch.

 

Just love the cudos Ali gave Johnson for his basketball sized cojones. He plain says that Johnson nigh did the impossible to take on the forces he took on. Absolutely fearless. "They say I'm trouble, but that man was crazy".

If Nietsche was alive to see Johnson, I think he'd be estatic. If someone ever imbodied the idea of "the supehuman" it was Johnson, good or bad.

 

Yes , I also appreciated that he did not totally dismiss any of the past greats & gave them credit for being dominant in 'their time'. Technique wise Tunney seems to be the fighter in which ALI first recognizes a more modern Boxer.

ALI was a member of the Nation of Islam & under the tuteledge of Malcolm X & Elijah Muhammed ,FULLY understood the racial climate of Johnson's time. The LACK of any notable Negro leadership besides Booker T Washington(which Blacks were starting to reject ) & basically NO Civil Rights Orginizations(No NAACP,NOI,UNIA,etc..) yet he stood up to an entire system on his OWN only with moral support from the general Black public, the FEW Black papers(Chicago Defender) & FEW leaders( Du Bois/Pickens) that existed at the time.

Good to see the racially aware ALI(in a rare serious moment) showed appreciation for what the man must have endured & awe at the courage shown.
Bundini ,who came up with much of ALI's rhymes/banter, frequently referred to Johnson before fights to get ALI inspired such as:
'Ghost in the House !Ghost in the House! Jack Johnson's here! Ghost in the House!'
Johnson would have loved ALI.

 

Johnson and Ali outside the ring were quite different characters.Personally,I couldn't see Johnson ,unlike Ali,submitting himself to any religious figurehead or being an spokesman for a political organization.

He was his own man-for better or worse.

 

Point well taken. No doubt. I could never see Johnson being a mouthpiece for a group like the Nation of Islam(though none were in existence) or any man. He frequently fired "managers" who dared mention his personal life to him , let alone attempt to control it. Was sued by many 'ex' managers who deemed him "A hard man to handle'

Ali actually called NOI Ministers because he really didn't know what to tell the media once he refused the Army(no doubt the NOI influence). The quote "The Viet-Cong never called me no Ni**er" was straight from a NOI minister. They shaped his views on the war,the country, against interracial marriage,etc.....)

But Johnson(unlike other elders Joe Louis/Jackie Robinson ) would have 'sympathized' with ALI's political views,opinions, philosophies,etc.... as he would have seen himself when he saw ALI struggles wth the public/government in the late 60's. Saw all the brashness of his youth in ALI. And Ali was in awe of him & Johnson would have never rejected someone who adored him & respected his greatness. His ego was too large.
Both their demeanor's are similiar inside & outside the ring(Johnson was known to be great with admirers ,Black or White, just as Ali & no one has to mention their similiar Ring antics).

Johnson had very strong opinions just as Ali had(via NOI) ,but they were simply formed from his own 'personal' experiences & not through the influence of others like the NOI.

 

I strongly disagre.

Jack Dempsey (when you actualy watch film that is speed corected) is the best come forward ofensive heavyweight there has ever been in terms of technique. He is better technicaly than Tyson and better than Duran in some aspects of his game.

Jack Johnson is harder to judge. His style is totaly miscelaneous but I am prepared to acept that it worked.

Max Baer is totaly crude and unfocused but you have to look at all aspects of him. His power was off the scale and he couldnt be hurt with an axe. He could laugh like a goofball while a top end puncher slamed him on the chin and blow kisses to the ladies in the audience. Thats how durable he was.

 

you mean you cant and i have wasted all this time.

just joking i understand it but i think dundee or roach could have at least made it look more appetising

 

Interesting that Ali viewed Marciano as better than Frazier and the best of the bunch before him. And given styles, he may well be the hardest fight for him, of all of those.