Did James Jeffries retire too soon?

Just to put my cards on the table as it were,I dont think J effries was afraid of Johnson,I dont think he was afraid of any man,but he may have felt it unwise to swim against the popular tide of public prejudice and accept the challenge of a black man for his title,Jeffries didnt like blacks,so it wouldnt have been difficult for him to deny any deserving black challenger a shot,but I somehow feel his own self esteem and sense of his stature as undefeated champion wouldnt have allowed him to continue for long fighting the likes of Finnegan,so rather than fight a "negro" he abdicated.

 

McVey,

It might interest you to know that Sam McVey was disappointed in losing to Ed Martin, and nearly gave up boxing. It's true. Sam Mcvey is quoted saying this. Read up and you'll see. The information is out there. When Ed Martin beat Sam McVey in 1904, Sam McVey did not fight again until 1906!

Again, Sam McVey was not in line for a title shot while Jeffries was active.

 

Mcvey was inactive for 17 months ,its no secret ,so what? In his next fight he kod Martin in 4rds,when Jeffries retired Mcvey was i n his prime at 28 years of age,of course he was in the frame.

 

Ever heard of a fighter who wasnt dissapointed at losing a fight? a nonsensical statement.

 

Do you agree with me when I said Langford, McVey, and Jeanette were not ready for a title shot while Jeffires was active or not?

 

NO!

 

Ok. Once again:

Jeanette was a 0-3 nobody when Jeffries retired!

Sam McVey was still a bit green when Jeffries retired in 1905. His record was 8-4, with three losses in a row. The Martin loss made MCVey think twice about prize fighting. Indeed, McVey did not return to the ring until 1906!



Langford was too small back then, and said he'd fight anyone but Jeffries!

 

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Yeah, McVey, Jeanette and Langford would've probably been murdered by Jeffries at that point if they fought. We know now how spectacular they turned out to become, back then i doubt they were even on the radar. Maybe Langford, but he was barely a middleweight.

 

From august1903 when he stopped a 37 year old Corbett who was 30 ibs lighter and hadnt had a fight in 3 years till May 1905 Jeffries fought once,in 1904 against the woefully overmatched Jack Munro,the referee stopped it to as he said "prevent someone being killed",Do you think Munro was a more worthy challenger than the guys Ive mentioned? In 1905 Jeanette stopped Langford in 8 rds.

 

You don't see how that would diminish his status? When fighting Johnson past his prime in 1910 and losing the fight, people made excuses for him saying he was really past it and would have beaten him in his prime. Well, continuing his career and not fighting Johnson despite him being the outstanding challenger would prompt people to ask questions about why he's not fighting him when he has the chance. He wouldn't have that extra cushion to fall back on, so to speak.:good

 

No one denies Dempsey the same thing in regards to Wills for the most part. The same thing would happen to Jeffries imo.

 

Because it's understood that Dempsey tried to get the fight. Jeffries didn't.:good

 

And what about Sullivan?? OR Corbett? OR Gene Tunney? No one denies the greatness to these guys either.

 

Its interesting that its accepted,and rightly that Jeffries was a shell of the great fighter he had been when he came back after 5 years inactivity,and at 35 was humiliated by Johnson ,yet one of his biggest wins is allways seen to be his ko over a 37 year old Corbett ,30lbs the smaller man who had been retired for 3 years and was 2 years older than Jeffries was when he attempted his comeback.

 

Says who? No one thinks the 2nd Corbett fight was one of Jeffires best five wins. It seems you're trying to throw stuff on the wall here to see what sticks.

Unlike Jack Johnson, Jeffries actually gave fighters who put up good fights vs him re-matches in title fights.:deal

Johnson ducked his top challenges as champion ( Jeanette, McVey, Langford, and Smith ) , and never bothered to give Jack O'brien, a past his prime fighter who Johnson had a 42.5 pound weight advantage a re-match. Hart, and Jim Battling Johnson never got re-matches either.