Jack Johnson vs. David Tua

Every intelligent boxer who ever faced Tua, with a decent defense, a little footwork, and some speed, outboxed him badly....until they got tired and got knocked out. Problem for Tua in this one would be that Jack Johnson did not get tired. Johnson was used to going 20 rounds, no problem, so Jack would laugh at the task before him of having to outbox Tua for 12. Like I said earlier, Johnson by clear decision. Is it possible that Tua could catch him and take him out? Sure. A puncher with a chin and condition who still carries his punch late always has that chance. But my money would be wagered on Johnson, who I think wins 9 times out of 10.

 

Johnson got gassed against Jack O'Brien by the 6th round, so he did not always carry the stamina you contend. Certainly, I think at his best (which was rarely presented at a true heavyweight weight) he had good stamina but not superhuman.

Another question is did Johnson or any of his opponents ever go at the pace that Tua and Ibeabuchi set for 12 rounds? Prancing around for 20 rounds with your hands at your sides and intermittently tieing up a 180 pound man is a distinctly different prospect than throwing 70 punches a round against super heavy who is throwing 85 punches back at you.

 

Name me another heavyweight who went 20 rounds as many times as Johnson did. Even in his mid to late 30s he was still lasting 20 rounds. I don't think stamina is really a valid foundation to use as an argument against Johnson when scouting this bout. Punch volume would not be that much of a factor against Johnson either because Johnson made guys miss, like Mayweather and Hopkins. Mere busy pace would not help Tua. And Johnson would find no troubles whatsoever landing on Tua.

 

You didn't really bring up Johnson's stamina in the O'Brien fight did you? You're better than that Seamus

 

First off Tua did not throw 85 punches a round v.s. Ike although I felt he deserved a very close decision win in that bout. However, that fight was the end of Tua. He was never, ever the same fighter. As far as questioning Johnson's stamina, it is fair since every fight we have of him he was allowed to dictate the pace .. that being said I still favor him to outbox Tua pretty easily ..

 

No, the referee, McGuigan, did... "Johnson looked tired and anxious in the 4th and O'Brien appeared confident throughout the bout."

 

I said Tua through 70 punches a round, still a high rate for a big heavy. Ike threw 85 a round. And the fight more or less ruined both fighters.

 

okay... are there ANY other factors that could've contributed to Johnson's stamina?

 

Him being an unreliable, unprofessional, often ill-prepared champion, perhaps?

And what excuse would he plan on bringing with him to a bout with Tua?

 

He would not need an excuse, because Tua was an unreliable, unprofessional, often ill-prepared never was.

This isn't Lennox Lewis we are matching him with here.

 

You can never ever count out a guy like Tua with his one punch KO power.

 

Tua was a fat fringe contender with overrated punch n chin .
Johnson , on d other hand , was a fit chiseled BBC with underrated parrying , slipping and uppercutting that would have had Tua retired in his corner somewhere past d 9th rd .

 

I never picked a winner, i only stated that Tuas punch cannot be counted out.

 

Did he ? Have to check that as I have it on tape ... it only ruined Tua from the standpoint that he never had the heart again ... imagine if he fought Lewis like he fought Ike ?

 

Yes and no.

A punchers chance against a fighter with superb defence and a sturdy chin, is a bit like a snowballs chance in hell.