[GIF] Johnson - Willard

Johnsons victims have a 25lbs average over Jeffries, he beat many big men Jeffries did not
,pot kettle?

Look moron, Johnson lost to Willard because he was not in shape to go 45rds with a younger man who was a giant .Whatever Willard's deficiencies he was extremely strong and durable ,once Johnson knew he could not stop him he knew he was going to lose, most everyone but a phobic hater like you, gives Johnson credit for putting up a brave fight in very humid conditions at the age of 37. Johnson weighed 225lbs for the fight which is 20 more than he scaled for Jeffries when he was in top shape. Nobody seriously expects you to be objective or honest on the subject of Johnson,so whatever you say on the subject is just so much sewage.Now have the courtesy not to turn this into another I hate Johnson thread.
"The fusion of Willard’s strength, his own lax conditioning and the searing conditions forced Johnson to confront the reality that his championship reign was in peril. He always had realized that he lacked the stamina needed to complete 45 rounds but he thought Willard’s perceived clumsiness and inexperience would eliminate the possibility of a long fight. Now that he had one, Johnson had no choice but to step out of his defensive shell and gun for the finish.
Willard continued to jab effectively during the first two minutes of round 20 but the challenger’s right hand to the side of the head ignited a fury within the champion. His flashing fists bulled Willard across the 20-foot ring and while Johnson’s punches landed accurately, they lacked the power that had left the mighty Jeffries in a heap five years earlier. The rally was short-lived, as was the one Johnson produced in the next round after another Willard right to the temple stoked his fire. This time, however, Willard answered with his own assault in the round’s final minute that caused several ringsiders to leap joyously to their feet.
From that point forward, Johnson barely had the energy to hold up his gloves, much less hold off a 238-pound giant. Suddenly, the once-invincible Johnson appeared far older than his 37 years.
“Time had done its work,” the Associated Press reported. “It had been the opinion of Johnson and many of his friends that he did not have to be in the best of condition to whip Willard, underrating the latter’s splendid condition and youthful stamina.”
According to a New York Times account, Johnson asked Curley following round 22 to “Tell my wife I’m tiring and I wish you’d see her out.”

 

There is extensive footage of this bout and both men looked impressive .. Johnson opened up time and again offensively more intensely than in any other film of hi mand we see, even at 37, his ability to throw blazing fast combinations of punches .. Willard shows poise, exceptional strength and the ability to take a shot .. a strong jab and a good right hand .. some much of this **** is so blown out of proportion ..

 

I agree, and have always agreed, that Willard looks very good against Johnson, as good as his limited athlete-ness-ism and skillset allow. Does anyone have comment, apart from the easily googleable details, why he was such a loser against scrubs like McMahon and The Boer before this fight with Johnson?

 

Some clowns here who don't even have a single professional fight on youtube, yet they claim that Willard who knocked out Jack Johnson, is no better than a modern 3 week newbie.

You can't make this stuff up.

I think Seamus is the toughest old-school critic who I actually take seriously, because his views often have some common sense balance to them.

 

This is a huge disservice to observations made by men like Ray Arcel.

 

Back to Willard.

What impresses me most about that guy, is that he kept landing punches against Dempsey when the fight was stopped.

The man had suffered the equivalent of a fatal automobile accident in the first few rounds, and was still throwing leather.

 

I do give Jess Willard credit.
But the way I see it, he beat an old fat version of Jack Johnson, a champion who had spent most of his 7 year reign taking on weaker challengers and dissipating anyway. Certainly Johnson hadn't been in prime condition since the Jeffies fight 5 years earlier.

 

There's a lot of footage of them standing still staring at each other too.
Even the comtemporary reports noted the severe lack of action for much of the bout.

 

Do you watch modern heavyweight boxing?

 

Yes.

 

Then are you ****ing blind? Modern heavies are the kings of "standing and staring at each other."

 

What's your point?
I thought this thread was to discuss the Willard v Johnson footage. :huh

 

Sorry I've gone punch drunk from by battles with kevin.

In the Johnson-Willard fight there are tense moments where they face off in close distance trading feints, which usually ends with Johnson countering something and launching big combos. Theres lots of action in this fight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74dnCeXI8MM

This video has about 20+ minutes of the fight.

 

I must admit when I first saw the extensive footage years ago I was impressed by Willard's apparent boxing sense, relative to the way he looks getting smashed by Dempsey, and the myth or assumption that he simply beat Johnson by soaking up his punches and tiring the old man.

Now, I take a middle approach, and he's not nearly as bad as some will say, but he really isn't very good either.
He does have boxing sense - and the footage of the Willard-Moran fight shows that too - but his technique is mediocre and it is true that he gets by a lot on toughness and use of his height.
Which is fair enough. You use what you have.

I'd expect a lot of champions and a lot of contenders to beat him, especially guys who are getting close to matching him in reach and height. Maybe not easily or in impressive fashion, but I think there's a lot who would beat him.