How Much Of A Beating (prolonged), Would Prime Jack Johnson, Have Given Willard!?

The Johnson of the Jeffries fight would have beaten Willard like a drum .

 

Impossible to say because Willard was highly motivated and Monahan, who trained him for Johnson knew Johnson’s style very well considering the long history Monahan and Johnson had. A lot of Johnson’s tricks that were very effective on Moran, Kaufman, etc... weren’t working on Willard.

A Younger Johnson likely results in the fight going the full 45 rounds, but even being prime doesn’t guarantee Johnson wins.

 

I don’t think he does much better. He wouldn’t have the size advantage he held over many of his prior opponents. He would fight s different fight, staying on his toes and using a lot of movement and pot shots. It would likely have been a dull affair with Johnson the winner by marginal decision.

 

Ass whipping of the century

 

It would n't have been a pretty sight,Fergy! Yes,20 rounds is about as long as Willard would manage. He would barely have landed a glove on Jack.

 

I’d honestly watch all 45 rounds of Johnson fighting anyone if it was in smooth legends quality. It’d be interesting just to see how fighters paced themselves for so many rounds and what strategies and manoeuvres they’d favour for the sake of what essentially is a combat marathon.

 

Of course, Johnson skills were light years removed from Willards. That was in complete evidence even when they actually fought - until an old, inactive and less than perfectly conditioned Johnson began to tire.

Prime Johnson would of course be that much faster, better conditioned and capable of fighting for that much longer. Still, if he can't get Jess out of there via KO/Stoppage, how much longer could Johnson go?

A fight duration of 45 rounds is insane. I don't know that Willard or even a prime Johnson could last that long if it was necessary to do so. If it came down to stamina, is it possible that Jess could still outlast Johnson?

Take a boxer like Chuvalo from more modern times when fights were capped at 15 rounds - putting skill aside, I think if sent back in time his stocks would rise considerably just for the fact of his stamina and durability - standing him in even better stead over the longer durations. What if another 10 rounds were added to his first fight against Ali - what might've happened then?

In this match up, my only reservation would be the possibility of Johnson not being able to KO Jess and seeing himself begin to tire and ultimately outlasted, albeit over more rounds than he lasted in their actual fight. Of course, all well and good if prime Johnson can stop or KO Jess inside of, say, 20-25 rounds.

One of the chief punches that Johnson used to bring Jeffries undone was the uppercut - one of the best you'll ever see, ripping Jeffries head up, time and again. Brutal. Great punch but Jeffries also proved an absolute sucker for same - even more so than Burns did. I can't see even prime Jack enjoying as much success with it against the much taller, upright Willard - though it still could be an effective punch, but not so much against a 6'6 1/4" opponent.

I'm a HUGE Johnson fan, unashamedly. I would be happy to be better convinced in more detail as to how and when prime Johnson would KO Jess or how Johnson might remain viable and still dominate over a 45 round limit.

 

Cheers Mc

I almost didn’t see your reply.

So do you think prime Johnson can get Jess out of there in good time?

I’m very interested in your opinion, of course.

 

Definitely mate. "Come on Mr Jess. Try and hit me now......Missed me Mr Jess!"