In the Ring: Marvin Hart .. Real facts on Johnson fight

I uncovered (then lost, dammit!) an interesting article from the Pittsburgh Press in which an unnamed man "in the Jeffries camp" stated (paraphrasing a bit here) that "all this talk about Jeff drawing the color line is a bit overstated. He's fought negros before and has no principles against it. He just doesn't see any reason in getting ready for Johnson when the fight won't draw flies. If there was a big demand for the fight and the money was right I get the feeling that he would sign the papers."

Take it for what it's worth. It is interesting though and seems consistent with Jeff's ways. Unlike Sullivan, Jeff never deemed fighting Blacks as being beneath his dignity.

Try and imagine Sullivan bowing to Peter Jackson in the ring as Jeff did

 

This," blue print" does not seem to have been particularly successful given that ,apart from a dsq loss to Jeanette [ his only win in 7 attempts] , the same year[1905] , Johnson went undefeated for the next 10years.:huh

 

Funny quote coming from a guy who supports Floyds argument that he can beat Manny so he shouldnt have to fight him to prove it...

 

I dont mind the petty sniping but get your facts right. I have'nt an opinion on the Pacman/ Floyd fight.If asked, I go with Floyd to win but hope Pac man does.
I see no reason why Manny should do drug tests over and above the legal requirements.

You have me confused with someone else.

You being the bloke who wet himself when he uncovered silent footage of mediocre Bob Roper sparring in a film ,yet looked down hs nose when I mentioned that Joe Jeanette is featured in a film boxing with John Lester Johnson.:good

 

It is an observation that Fitz and Corbett gave him tremendously hard fights and had to wait 3 years for rematches, by which time both had,retired at least once .They may have been Jeffries logical contenders but both were coming out of prolonged retirement and were both old in the terms of the times. In other words big names, but with seriously eroded skills and athleticism.
Jack Finnegan had been kod by Ruhlin in 4rds, 4 months before he challenged Jeffries, he beat no one of note to establish his right to a shot he is Jefffries worst challenger,his record was 4-2-4.
Finnegan makes Terry Daniels and Ron Stander look good, and acceptable oponents for a world title shot.
He even makes Munroe look acceptable atsch

 

Why take 3 years to accomodate Fitz and Corbett ?
Let Father Time do his dastardly work?

 

Well the only attitude or opinion I hold on the particular issue is that Hart and Johnson were probably better than Jack Munroe at that time. Probably as good or better than most of Jeff's challengers.
I'm not concerned with criticising Jeffries for retiring or for fighting X,Y or Z, it's not a critique of his personal choices or actions, just an assessment of his level of opposition.

This is what we do. We spend our time here forming retrospect opinions based on the available facts.

 

Prove to me he could have finished them earlier. You can't. Johnson certianly did not let Hart hang around. :deal

As for a champion being matched vs. an unworthy challenger, that was Johnson's modus operandi. Jeanette, McVey, Smith, and Langford were out there.

 

Johnson had been the No1 contender for years before he fought Hart.

You might argue that he lost that status as a result of the Hart fight.

 

I disagree.

Munroe was something of a manufactured fighter. The Gerry Cooney of the era if you like. He was still streets ahead of Finegan, and possibly better than Griffin or Kennedy.