Jack Johnson and the black heavyweights a chronology

Sam Mcvey quit boxing for a year after losing to Denver Ed Martin. This is why you won't see his name in 1905.

One thing I never quite understood is why Bob Armstrong never fought Jack Johnson. In the 1890's, Armstrong might have beaten him.

 

Which years in that decade was he likely to beat Johnson?

 

Armstrong would likely have beaten Johnson from 1894-1898. During this these years Johnson has a known 10 fights.

Johnson has his share of losses and draws in 1899-1901. Armstrong was a big man for his time ( 6'3 185-217lbs, 79" reach ) which some power, speed and movement skills.

 

Armstrong began boxing in1893 Johnson a year later.
In1897 Armstrong lost to Childs
1898 Lost toChilds x2 Once by ko
1899 Lost to Childs again
1899 Beat a teenage Martin WTF else did he ever beat?

 

Have you ever heard of Frank Slavin? Or Joe Butler? These are two known fighters in the 1890's. Armstrong beat them.

Johnson beat who from 1894-1898? You tell me, then we can compare who had the better victories in the timeline.

I'll be waiting....and please no off tangent / switch the subject tactics.

 

Yes I've heard of them ,Slavin was a drunken has been, and Butler is a Johnson victim as is Frank Childs who beat Armstrong 4 times out of 4
Please post your reasons for picking Armstrong to beat Johnson.

 

We are talking about the years 1894-1898.

Johnson beat a 36 year old Butler in 1903. That does not count. Its out of the dates, and Butler was SHOT by 1903. From 1902 to his retirement, Butler won just 2 of his last 14 fights. SHOT!

Armstrong beat him 1898 when Butler was 30, with a record of 28-7-2. That win matters.

Armstrong beat Slavin in 1895. Slavin in the same year beat a decent Frank Craig. And post 1895, he holds wins over Butler, Jake Kilrain, and Tom Lees.

Now show me why Johnson beat better fighters from 1894-1898! He did not and I predict you won't even reply to this statement, which means I'm correct.

Reasons why I think Armstrong would have beaten Johnson from 1894-1898 are thus.

1 ) Armstrong beat better competition between 1894-1898
2 ) Johnson lost to a light weight / welter weight fighter in Bob Thompson!
3 ) Johnson in his first real test lost via TKO to Klondike in 1899. He likely wasn't as good in 1898.
4 ) Johnson was very young in this timeline.

To you your reasoning, Johnson was also below 175 pounds per 1899. Armstrong was much bigger.