Jack Johnson Agrees To defend Against Sam McVey For $30,000

Interesting.

 

I guess he'd have to take the fight if the public forced the fight enough but obviously they didn't so he didn't. He loved to be special, the only black man who had been allowed to fight for the title, plus he wasn't going to take the chance of losing.

 

He knew anything can happen in a fight? fear of robbery? lucky punch?

I just know he liked the distinction; he was the only black to get a title shot and he'd rather have kept it that way.

 

I know I might be in the minority but I believe Johnson was never afraid at all of fighting anybody like that. He had already beaten him before so why would he be afraid of fighting them again. He wouldn't IMO. He had already beat them handily, and see no reason why he would be afraid of fighting them? that makes absolutely no sense to me. Sure anything can happen but in the end, if the money was there he would have fought them

 

No great fighter is afraid of any opponent.

 

Well Sam Mcvey was a Green teenager with less than one year of experience when Jack Johnson first beat him! :-( Yeah, that's a big win. ( Sarcasm )

He was also a teenager in the second match, and just 20 for the thrid. After McVey lost to Martin, he quit the game for a year.

We are talking about a prime Sam McVey in 1911 The offer was out there. Ther were lots of offers. Johnson skirted the top black talent. He also found excuses not to face them. ( Langford, Jeannette, Mcvey )

Let's not act like he was busy in 1911, Jack Johnson did not fight that year.

 

Yes, Jack Johnson said he wanted to be the only black heavyweight champion.

He criticised Joe Louis and possibly wanted Schmeling to beat him.

Joe Jeannette said,

 

Not so, much depends on who they fight. Are you saying Patterson wasn't afraid of Liston?

 

In 1911, the British refused to allow Johnson to defend against Bombardier Billy Wells. Johnson traveled to England, trained to fight its champion for a $30,000 guarantee, and then England refused to allow the contest for racial reasons. The acting Home Secretary, who made the final decision, was none other than Winston Churchill. It is all in my book.