Jack Johnson on Dempsey, Langford, Fitz

What a life,What a character. One of the greatests.

 

I remember either McGrain or McVey made a thread about this already, a very good read even tho he is clearly biased. I think he hit the nail on the head with regards to Dempsey's power, his ease at being hit and the issue with refs.

 

I've been reading the whole series of articles and there is a lot there to ponder. For instance, he doesn't rate any of the 1929 "modern" fighters above the old guys. His list of the greatest heavyweights (himself excluded) goes:

1.Bob Fitzsimmons
2.James J. Jeffries
3.Peter Jackson
4.James J. Corbett
5.Sam Langford
6.Sam McVey
7.Joe Jeanette
8.John L. Sullivan
9.Philadelphia Jack O'Brien
10.Tom Sharkey
11.Gene Tunney
12.Jack Dempsey

Check it out: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mmpjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G3kNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1614,6246626

He has some nice things to say about Benny Leonard, but doesn't think that Leonard would beat Joe Gans who he compares him to. Also, according to Johnson the greatest pound for pound fighter was Joe Walcott. However, he doesn't rate John L. Sullivan as any more than a big tough guy. Lots of food for thought.

 

Yea, Morrison I saw him rocked and hurt many times, He got the scare of his life vs 10 fight Yuri Vaulin, he was hurt but rallied...Morrison has always been a classless guy and I am not sure if his drug use affected his chin but it was a middleweights chin or less...

 

I am not sure whether or not Jack Johnson ever saw John L Sullivan fight. But if he did, there is no doubt that by this time, he would have been nothing more than a big tough guy, if he was even that.

 

I pick a prime Sullivan over each and every fighter on that list.

 

His criticisms of Dempsey's style and skills are my own.

 

Tunney's right hand, which he often threw without warning, was his best shot IMO.

 

Yeah, I don't buy that part.

Tunney had hand problems but when his mitts were healthy that right was very hard.

And the reality is that the Tunney camp offered Wills a fight which he turned down.

 

I don't know enough about the last part, what year was this? You have a link or the time to wax lyrical on the subject?

 

Johnson raises an interesting and relevant point about Fitzsimmons and Langford.

They were basicaly doing with a single punch, what the other great heavyweight finishers of history needed many to do.

 

Wow, i'm suprised. This right hear is like nearly a century old but the way jack talks sounds like the modern century.

 

So, you'd be sure Fitzsimmons would beat him ?