Jack Johnson today.

He'd be condemned for saying that but it would be considered great hype for a fight against a black challenger. ESB would crash for a while. General forum would hit critical mass in an all-time frenzy of open race-baiting and outright internet insanity that would make Mayweather-Pac debates seem like reasonable discussion.

Hopkins would take it as a call to arms and another excuse to stick around and he'd make his own crass comments. Haye would dream up something worse than a beheading. James Toney would slim down to 260 pounds for a comeback.

Don King would come back to run boxing. Him and Bob Arum would join forces.
Sylvester Stallone would make another Rocky Balboa where Rockys come back to fight the racist white champion for his excluded black brethren.

Everyone would make Gazillions of
$$$$$$
££££££££££
€€€€€€

Evander Holyfield would repeat his intention to become undisputed champion of the world before he retires.

 

I think he can out speed Hay and Vitily, but I think Wald keeps him at the end of his Jab. I also think he would have won a crusierweight championship. Based on his acatual weights.
As far as his personality goes and how the public would react to him. Jack Johnson would be an interesting personality.

 

That was my first thought.

I see what everyone is saying about him responding positivly to his charisma, but I think Johnson would be continually pushing the boundaries of controversy.

He might be the first Heavyweight champion to openly encourage the Taliban, Peodaophilia, and Peter Tobin!