Jack Johnson vs Luis Angel Firpo ''The Sparring Session''

Johnson is quoted :

"He's mighty strong. I don't see how a man so much smaller than him as Brennan can beat him. Firpo don't know much about boxing, but he has tremendous strength, and seems to be a hard hitter—I don't know just how hard, because I didn't let him hit me. I'm past allowing myself to get hit by these strong young fellows."

 

lol, not suprising. he'd have beaten dempsey too if he was given a chance, everyone knows he threw the willard fight.

 

I can assure you that there is no way that Johnson threw the Willard fight.

That aside he did get frozen out of the picture after he came out of prison. He made concerted efforts to arrange title matches with a number of top contenders which were subject to interference from the powers that be.

 

The Willard fight was on the level, Johnson tried his best to put the giant away but his lack of condition and his age 37, coupled with the 105 heat sapped his strength, he was in front up to the 19th round but faded as Willard made his surge.
Johnson was past his best then , a year in jail did him no favours ,I dont think he was a viable contender after Havana.He went undefeated for eleven years after the Willard fight , but he was not facing top tier men.

 

Yeah. I and almost all intelligent, well-researched observers of the sport much not be in your "everyone" classification.

 

I haven't brushed up on this, but I'm pretty sure this fight took place before he went to jail. In fact, if I recall correctly him avoiding jail time was a big selling point for him agreeing to fight Willard.

Nevertheless, I don't believe this fight was fixed. He was, as you pointed out, past his prime.

 

Sorry did my post mislead you? Johnson turned himself in to the authorities in 1920 , 5 years after losing his title to Willard.

What I meant was his year in Leavenworth did not help his case as a contender,being that he was 43 when he was incarcerated.
Johnson was persona non grata, anyway ,even if he had been in his prime no promoter would put him in the frame for a title fight.

 

Yes, but after reading it again, it became a little clearer.

 

Past his prime, sure I go with that. He was 37 years old at the time.

But out of shape?? He was in peak fighting shape for his age of couse. No out of shape fighter fights 26 rounds in heat.

Johnson must of been in great shape. Sure he had a belly, but like most people getting up in age, thats bound to happen.

 

The fight was on the level for sure. I think you have the facts backward. Johnson did not spend a year in jail prior to the Willard fight.

105 degree heat in Havana in April? I think not. I'm sure it was hot, but that would be record heat. Does anyone care to look this " reported " fact up?

 

Of course I wasn't there...I'm old but not THAT old! However, I have read from many sources that the temperature in Havana that day was over 100 degrees F.

 

But how?:think

I'm just asking since I didn't see but bits of it.Never could find the full 26 rounds.

 

Not at all. A belly doesn't just "happen".
Having a flabby midsection where there used to be a flat six-pack is obviously and clearly a case of being "out of shape". I cant think of a clearer case, or example.

Being 37 doesn't make it inevitable that you'll have a belly. It only happens to "most people" because most people are slobs.
Anyone who stays active and doesn't over-eat and slob-around and drink ought to be in the same sort of physical shape at 37 (and beyond) as they were at 22.
Johnson was out of shape. Not horribly out of shape. But noticeably out of shape.

 

I think you must read backward .
Where did I say Johnson was imprisoned BEFORE the fight ?

Read my last post!
I knew you had trouble framing a sentence ,but assumed you could read one.
In July 1920 Johnson had talks with a special agent , of the Bureau of Investigation,this was agent David Gershon,and the talks took place in Tijuana.
Johnson wanted an assurance that if he turned himself in he would not be treated in like a "common criminal",ie handcuffed . Gershon refused to bargain ,beyond saying Johnson would be treated in" a civil manner" .

Johnson crossed the border into the US on July 20th 1920 , Gershon and a US Marshall, George Cooley were waiting for him,they shook hands , and were photographed,Johnson spoke to the many reporters present and that was that .
Johnson was temporarily jailed in Los Angeles ,and then transported to Leavenworth prison, where he served out his sentence.
The Willard fight was on the level Johnson did his best and was in front ,up to the 19th round.After that,realising he could not stop the giant he knew he could not last the 45 rds and would therefore be beaten.
After the 25th round Johnson sent a message to his wife via Curley the promoter ,asking Curley to escort her out of the arena.
According to Jack Welch the referee ,Johnson was confident he would beat Willard and bet $2,500 on himself to win.
But the huge Willard ,in the best shape of his life was too strong for the 37 year old Champion.the temperature was 105 degrees, the racetrack venue is just 10 miles from Havana,the boxers came in the ring at 12,30 and the fight began at 1 o clock.
Johnson, past his prime at 37 , put up a great fight but after an hour of fighting he faded,Willard absorbed everything he threw and was still strong, the ko was legit.