Interesting Jack Johnson article by Monte Cox

I put this up the other day it was deleted ,I wish you better luck with yours.:good

 

Why was that btw? There was some pretty good posts there.

 

This is too controversial for this website......goes against everything many people here believe it...that the old guys (<1915) could destroy each and every boxer today with one hand behind their backs.

Very underground, subversive stuff. I'm sure this guy has been rounded up by the Old School Guard and made to watch all the John L Sullivan films for punishment.

 

I disagree with the premise of the article on two levels.

It is wrong, and probably also irrelevant.

 

What the heck happened to Monte Cox?????? He always praised the past greats. Now this ****?

 

Interesting article. Cox brings up some points that I agree with and have posted about before. Boxing has evolved from the time of Johnson. Equipment, rulesets etc.. have changed. The HW division from the late 60's to the 90's was light yrs from the HW division of Johnson's time. Combination punching became the norm, not the wide open one at a time swings of the past that Johnson could exploit with his superior reflexes. Nor did we see true HW's fighting MW's anymore. Imagine someone like Burns trying to take on the likes of Ali, Frazier, Norton, Foreman or later Holyfield, Bowe, Tyson or Lewis. He'd be murdered. I'm a big fan of the old timers but I have to be realistic as well. They were great for their time but times change. Boxing techniques evolved as time went by. if someone like Johnson were time warped to the modern era he would have to adapt his style somewhat to cope with larger faster foes. Imagine how he would fare against the size and speed of Ali who employs movement and a hard fast consistent jab and punches in bunches or Frazier with constant pressure and non stop attack. Not to mention the size and strength of a modern HW. Different times that's all. I'm not putting down the old timers. They were pioneers of their sport. But the sport changed with the times.

 

As I pointed out in a much more detailed post yesterday: Garbage article containing flawed points and showing a gross lack of understanding. Monte has written better than this. Hopefully he was drunk when he wrote this and gets the help he needs.

 

We were having a good discussion in the last thread. Not sure what happened.

Anyway, the article is complete rubbish.

 

Important and much needed article tho I don't necessarily agree with all of it. Those with either financial incentives or ego tied up in the relative abilities of old timers are bound by duty to be offended. You are merely playing the only cards you've been dealt. It's understandable.

On the other hand, you can't detract from Johnson's greatness. It is undeniable by almost all measures. He generally played to his opponents' level. He had a few hiccups, as did Louis, Ali and Lewis. If anything it is the quality of his opponents relative to later eras that is open for criticism... and I'm not even sure how fair that is.

 

So you're the new classic troll.

 

I certainly think parts of it are valid. My view is that much like the superheavy weights of today, when the heavyweight division was just starting out you had essentially the same problem, which is that most of the guys simply weren't all that good, so it allowed someone like Johnston to really stand out.

But put Johnson in the ring with a Tyson or a Lewis and I don't think it lasts very long, which is why I'm not a fan of pitting greats from the past, many who would be cruiserweights today, against Superheavyweights, I just think for the most part it's nonsense.

 

I've read many of Monte's articles. This is not Monte Cox at least it's not Monte writing honestly. My thought is he is trying to increase readership via altering his direction.

 

I don't buy that for one second. Many knowledgable people saw Johnson fight from ringside but none of them say Johnson was a lousy fighter. The guy was an ATG and ATG attributes transcend eras.

Very surprised Monte is going down this path.

 

I consider it a public service. Put me on your ignore list if you don't like my opinions.