Interesting Jack Johnson article by Monte Cox

Incredible. Watch Ali Frazier 1. Then watch Johnson vs Moran, Dempsey Firpo, Dempsey Carpentier. Tell me then that the bouts filmed 100 plus years ago offer no issues in terms of being able to follow the action, see subtle defensive moves etc. Very few on here realize the incredible skills of Jack Dempsey...the short punching, slipping, bobbing and weaving and the reason? The quality of the films. Some on here who have taken their time to closely examine the films see the skills. For the casual fan the films of these past eras are very difficult to follow. Then comes the era of Joe Louis and after...,film quality is now incredibly good and then all the fighters considered great look good. It's only these very ancient primitive films where the all time greats don't look that hot. Why are there question marks regarding the skills of the ATG only where film quality is poor?

 

Not only that, but if you can discipline yourself to ****yze fight footage, you'll truly realize how great they are. At least that's been my experience.

 

I have watched these bouts since 1970 and I see the skills clearly. Much more impressive skills than modern hwts in many ways. They are ATG for a reason.

 

Wait. Now you see the skills clearly? Before, you were saying the film was too herky jerky.

At least be consistent in your incorrectness.

 

You have to study anything if you want to understand it. If you watch boxing matches whether its jack johnson or ali or tyson like they are sitcoms then you arent going to get it. If you watch jack johnson or ketchel or klaus and actually pay attention and focus on the action then its as revealing as anything today minus the slow motion close ups and multiple angles. I guess it depends on who is watching and how. I think its pretty silly to pretend that people who actually appreciate old timers and see their stylistic worth simply have overactive imaginations.

 

I would make the case that modern isolation filming detracts from footwork and ring generalship, the ways and methods in which fighters direct traffic and both create and diminish space in the ring, and also how the great operators control distance.

So there.

 

And come to the conclusion that Carnera has"devasting power"?:think

 

So if we had perfect quality film of Johnson, he would look COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the Johnson we see in the old black & white footage?

The strange stance would be gone - along with the feinting and the open-glove blocking of punches. Everything that made his style so distinctive would miraculously disappear in modern footage? Is that what you are saying??

 

Yes. With better footage we would also see that he really had footwork on par with Ali, the combination punching and speed of a young Mike Tyson, and the jab of Larry Holmes.

 

Considering you need Sharkeys wife to call fights for you, the latter part of this thread is about you!

 

It would look completely different.

The object would remain the same. The subject (you) would view him completely different. Your perception of the effectiveness of his style and skills would change dramatically. The 'strange stance' would actually look really cool, dynamic, and effective. You would find him to be more powerful, faster, smarter, and ultimately, greater. You would actually care about the welfare of his opponents, because you'll see the bewilderment, frustration, and blood on their faces.

If we had Johnson vs. Jeffries in 8 angles, full color, HD, with super slow mo cameras, with world class sound production, he may well look like the greatest fighter ever.

 

Not buying this at all. Again, many fighters look great under early footage. I rewatched Mike Gibbons in 1915 yesterday on youtube (while at work). He looked exceptionally well-schooled. And most of my early films of Napoles, Monzon and even Duran were single camera and ****py, third world quality, many in B& W, and those fighters still look great.

 

I don't need anyone to call fights for me ,but if I did you, would be the last one I would ask! Going by your posts,TBH, I don't think you have a clue!

 

It's production.

There's a reason content creators and media outlets invest tons into production, advertising, etc. Camera technology is one of the fastest growing technologies in the last 100 years.

1915 boxing footage on the spectrum of terrible to great production, is all the way on the terrible side. If you like Gibbons filmed in 1915, you would love him if he was filmed in 2016.

 

Sharkeys wife told you to say this, didn't she? :rofl