Jack Johnson in the 1940's

If he grew up during that era, he'd do excellent and have a great trilogy with Joe Louis in perhaps the first title fight between two black men.

If he was 'transported' to the 40's, he'd be in world of trouble. Boxing changed a lot in those 30 years time. Combinations, jabbing and working from a distance, hands high, 15 rounds, etc.

 

I also think the heavyweight division in the 40's was a bit richer.

In the 1900's there was barely a border between heavyweights, lightheavyweights and even middleweights. That should tell you enough about the talent at heavyweight. Of course, Mcvey, Jeannette and Langford were great fighters (Langford being a LHW), but Johnson never fought them when they were in their prime, so in that sense we don't know how he would've done against the top heavies of his own era either.

 

My point exactly.

 

It’s hard to say if the 40's was a bit richer talent wise, but you're right. Johnson never fought prime or near prime heavyweight versions of McVey, Jeanette, or Langford. History shows us he didn't give the better contenders title shots either ( Smith, Clark, McCarty ), and struggled in some title matches vs mediocre level contenders.

The 40's had fighters like Louis, Charles, Walcott, Ray, Bivins, etc....

However the color line was mostly in play. Louis only gave two black men title shots. I reckon Johnson would play the same games, which means he might not have fought the above guys unless he was offered a title shot.

Johnson in the 1940 might have fought a lot of white contenders. While Conn was good at his best, guys like Pastro, Simon, Maruiello, Maxim, Godoy, Woodcock, Savold, etc...were not top rated guys in my mind.

So I do think if Johnson got a crack at the title, and managed to defeat Louis, he could have a nice run vs tier two contenders.
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Johnson would have done well in the 1940s.

 

True. Allways going to be a massacre.

 

A 50 year old Jack Johnson was able to beat some top contenders of the late 30s so logicaly a prime Jack Johnson should have been as dominant against them as he was against the Kaufmans and Fergusons of his own era.

If Johnson is going to be stoped from having his way with this era then it is up to Joe Louis to do it and if he cant then nobody else will.

 

In 1931 a 53 year old Jack Johnson knocked out Brad Simmons in the second round. The same Brad Simmons who had recently held Tiger Jack Fox to a draw.

Realisticaly I dont think that a prime Johnson would have had any trouble dealing with the bum of the month club. He might not have crushed the era under foot like Louis did but he would have set himself well apart from the rest.

 

I think Johnson would beat a fair amount of fringe contenders and good journeyman, as well as taking some of the better fighters the distance. I'm not sure that I'd pick him to tango well with Joe Louis though.

 

We dont want to turn this into a Louis Johnson thread so the question should be:

What if we replace Joe Louis with Jack Johnson?

How dose he do against the same opposition?

My view is that he would have been a dominant champion.

 

I could see him holding the title for a while but I have my doubts about him reigning for 11.5 years and through 25 defenses. Johnson was pretty well accustomed to fighting under the London prize rules, a system which commonly rewarded larger fighters taking on smaller foes. Johnson would not have the luxury of using the grabbing and holding tacticts on fighters who were bigger and stronger than himself. I think fighters like Abe Simon, Buddy Baer and Lou Nova could pose problems for Johnson, though I'm not claiming that they'd beat him.

 

Come now, there are some unfacts listed above.

Dempsey was about 188 against Willard, not 170. And the first title fight between two black men was Jack Johnson v Jim Johnson.