would that change your HW ranking of him. I'm guess I'm trying to see how a win, or simply retiring while not losing as champ would affect his legacy in your view
I don't think it would change my ranking.I think it's a plus for Johnson that as a dissipated fat 37 he was in front after 20rds against a trained to the minute, on a mission giant.If anything taking that fight away might be negative for Jack,imo, I rate Johnson very highly so even a win would not change anything for me.
Johnson lost as an aged ATG. His status already sealed. However if the deck was not stacked against him he would have won his bout with Willard via 20 or 25 round decision. I doubt anyone was capable of beating him over a normal distance fight and I don't see him retiring. He remains champion until Dempsey beats him in 1919.
I don't think anyone hold the loss against him tbh. So doesn't change anything, just makes his reign seem weaker if anything.
It would give a boost to Johnson in the sense that he'd have held on to his belt longer, and that always helps a legacy. That said, it affects Willard more than anything. Had the fight not actually happened, I doubt Jess would get any benefit of the doubt whatsoever in a proposed match from the "what if" fantasy fight crowd. As it is, Jess still doesn't get due respect for the win today, and never really did thanks to the long-standing myth that the knockout was faked.
Good thread! Love the what ifs? I think Jack at that point in his life was feeling his age and and holding on to his title would have been getting harder. I believe he at some point before dempsey got his shot, Johnson would have lost along the line. But it still wouldn't have affected his place in history. He would always be the first black heavy weight champ and his skills, like they are now would be seen as light years ahead. If not jess then I believe Jack would have lost at some point before 1919 to another white hope of the time. Perhaps in a similar situation, ahead on points against some one before been knocked out.
