Ezzard Charles vs Jack Johnson

Charles was the superior fighter aggressively. I think the Charles that KO'd Bob Satterfield,beat Joe Louis or L15 Marciano can beat and possibly KO any version of Johnson. I respect Johnson and his athletic ability and greatness but do not think he fought anyone like Ezzard Charles. I can see Charles taking a decision unless the fight becomes a war and I can see Ezz prevailing with a KO.

Charles is underrated as a heavyweight IMO

 

I would have to go with Johnson. His strength and ability to control his opponents would make him a heavy favourite in my opinion.

 

Yes, but keep in mind that this was in an era where his opponent would usually throw one of two wide, arcing punches and then clinch. Charles and the fighters of his era were a whole different beast. Jack never saw as many punches sailing at him in his life as he would vs. the aggressive, prime Charles. I don't see him picking off or being able to "control" an offense like that.

I've seen the films just like everyone else and, on average, fighters threw a lot more leather in the Charles era than in the Johnson era.

 

But do you think that these fighters could keep up this same level of punch output against Johnson? I dont see how it is even possible, if Johnson grabs their arms (as he used to do) and wrestles them, all the while landing the uppercut on the way in and even in the clinch.

I would have thought that modern combinations simply would not be possible against someone fighting out of Johnsons style, due to his expert grappling. This puts the modern fighter at a large disadvantage in some respects, doesnt it?

 

Johnson by Brutal KO imo.. Charles would have a points lead early on.. but eventually the size would start to take its toll and Johnson would start to wear him down. I have a sneaky suspicion that if Johnson really let loose... and didn't hold back... he would KO'd people more often and in more devastating fashion than he did. He wouldn't hold back with Charles and I believe KO him.

 

LOL

One too many arguments with Mendoza might induce a stroke.

 

Ez boxed some clever heavies in his time (thinking Walcott, Bivins etc and Harold Johnson) and fairly busy guys too. Harold Johnson was a good defensive boxer and Walcott was very shifty but never really saw him cut loose against Charles like Johnson could be capable of doing. Ezz was beautifully balanced and could read the other guys moves and counter well himself and he kept his feet continually moving where Johnson was a flat footed guy generally. Ezz threw nice double jabs too but which might get through Johnson's attempt to glove block stuff.
Ezz was busy in the clinches too but Johnson could control the arms of anyone and did so with everyone on film with almost ridiculous ease - one has to suspect that Johnson would be just as effortless with Charles.
The real problem for Charles though would be how much did Johnson hold in reserve in his filmed title fights? How little we get to see on film of what he could really do? And just how powerful he was - this is the real problem for Charles because Johnson would bide his time for as long as he wanted and wouldn't be overly bothered if Charles was difficult to get to box at a slower pace - in any case Johnson was too quick for a middleweight Ketchel (and everyone else he fought) so again I don't really see why Charles is going to have faster reflexes than Johnson - Jacks whole thing was anticipation and reflexes and he was always the master in terms of this?
Plus Johnson always liked to spring something new on his man - he played games with everyone of his opponents and it wasn't just a fight with Johnson it was a game in making a fool of the other guy and making him look inferior.

Plus I think people were scared to death of Johnson which I think accounted for guys not wanting to commit to shots properly but that doesn't mean he just flatout couldn't cope with more than one punch at a time?

I think Johnson would start fast - he'd want to hurt Charles early and make him think - this is a guy who knocked Jim Jeffries over the middle rope without even trying and had big Jess Willard covering up for 20 rounds when he was 37 - the moment he wanted to finish his fights he was nasty with his attacks and threw them so fast that they were difficult to recover from the moment he went for it Burns was all over the place, Ketchel was flattened, and Jeffries was up and down like a yo yo - In fact Johnson flattened Burns, Ketchel, Tortured Jeffries, absolutely toyed with Flynn, flattened Fitzsimmons, was the only man to actually Knock Out McVey in the first 10 years of his career after toying with him for the previous 20 - I think the physical strength of Johnson would cause Ezz problems and Johnson did well with smaller guys who - Ezz definitely belonged in there with any heavyweight in history although some would be awkward for him - this would be one of those ones where Ezz would be very uncomfortable - don't forget for a second how hard Johnson hit.

 

This is my opinion as well. I think there is a big difference in output and skill level in general, no doubt Johnson was skilled and strong but Ezzard was as well and and IMO the most skilled and athletic and complete fighter that Johnson faced

 

I would pay to see this ****.

If Johnson was dropped out of plane from 1908, he would lose. No doubt about it. There was simply no correlate fighter to Charles in his era. Parrying pint sized bar room brawler blows is not the same as dealing with a prime Charles.

That said, give Jack 6 months to adjust and train and meet a few contemporaries… and then we would have one hell of a match,

 

Do we not assume for these fantasy match ups, that they are fighting under real circumstances?? Surely it's obvious that fighters train and spar etc for every fight they enter into? If we're saying they have no actual perpetration though then for me the pendulum actually swings more to Johnson if anything, being the much more unique one off style of the two and being the better instinctive fighter - It was second nature for Johnson to come into fights with little to no idea of certain fighters styles in terms of watching videos and or sparring for certain styles and Late in his reign Johnson sometimes came into fights with watch looked like zero training and still managed to get by - I think if Charles neglected his fitness and preparation as much as Johnson did late then he wouldn't have been able to get by without it - just MO

 

Charles, boxing had moved to another level by this time and Charles became the king of the sport during this period. He does so many things better than Johnson's it's hard to know where to start but from his speed to his defence to his feints to his balance Charles is better in every facet bar strength.

Parachute or no parachute?