Interesting Jack Johnson article by Monte Cox

Dempsey was his hero apparently, it means something for sure but I take it with a pinch of salt.

 

Yeah," he lost to Sharkey after Dempsey had lost the title."

NINETEEN DAYS EARLIER
Hate walks in the front door and objectivity disappears out the back one .atsch

 

And Schmeling watched how many of Dempsey's fights?

 

I wouldn't say Wills had the better showing.
I guess it's all subjective, but I'll always tend to value a 2-round war/destruction over a boring clinch-filled decision win.

 

Apollack,

Yes, Johnson did have a lot of fights before he became champion. And the best fighters he fought with some experience bettered him.

Exhibit A, B, and C....Choynski, Griffin, and Hart. I would argue these three when Johnson fought them were as good or better than Johnson's best win before becoming champion. Not mentioned are at least 11 losses or draws before he became champion. While some of the draws were dubious, others were not.

If there has ever been a great champion with this many losses and draws before becoming champion his name escapes me. If there was a great champion with a weaker title run, his name escapes he was well.

Why Johnson in the ring can't be judged for the good and bad by some escapes me.

Regarding Wilder, I think he's a little more durable than given credit and not quite the puncher he was hyped to be. He still has not beaten a top 5 opponent, though. But he's very tall and can box some. He needs to watch his weight as he has the legs of a middleweight supporting nearly 230 pounds. Those string bean types usually don't take body shots well either.

A match with lots of clinching or in-fighting I think would hurt him if he doesn't end it early.

 

In fairness to Tunney, he did offer Wills a match. Wills refused.