Jack Johnson vs Muhammad Ali, 1910

We have no idea of how either in their primes could handle a marathon 45 round route, or for that matter just about any other all time great either, so I'm going to negate that factor here in my response. Two things stand out for me between them, Ali 's favorite weapon the left jab would have been picked off by Johnson's catching and Jack would have had little offense tag Muhammad due to his stance, great for defense but hobbled in moving forward against a target like Ali. An occasional right hand would hit home for both and Jack would land some in close. A lot of close rounds and the winner depending on what each judge would be looking at.

 

Ali takes this fight. I think he hits a little harder and has better footwork. The clinch game Jackson will try and pull might work for the early rounds until Ali finds his footwork route.

I see this being a close technical battle but if Ali catches him with the right hand enough times he outpoints him or finishes him late

 

But close close fight.

Probably not one to please casuals

 

Wow, I've actually been thinking about this match-up and scenario.

If Johnson can get in a phonebooth with Ali he might spank him. Ali isn't tugging Jack's head, cause Jack is going to secure Ali's arms first, then punch. I think, in 15 rounds, Ali's feet keep this from happening. But I don't think Ali is going to be on his toes for a long, long distance fight. Should Ali try to KO the more economic Johnson? But that's risky against a good counter puncher, and might make it easier for Johnson to get his hands on Ali. I don't know that I'm betting on Johnson, but I'm not betting against him.

 

22 foot ring at Reno. Johnson was asked if 22 ft was agreeable to him or if he wanted larger, he said 22 ft. was OK. I think Jack wanted to avoid any hint of 'advantages', he wanted to leave no possible excuses for his opponent. (via Adam Pollack's 'In the Ring with Jack Johnson Part II: the Reign')

 

In a big ring Ali will dance circles around Johnson. However can he dance circles for 25 rounds?

 

45 rounds? Aside from Willard how many of JJ bouts were scheduled for 45 rounds????

 

Who says Ali would have to dance for 25 rounds? He hit harder, took a better punch, and could clinch just as well if not better. The only thing Johnson did significantly better was uppercut.

Johnson's defense vs. the jab is suspect, and in fact tended to slow down a bit vs. some of his tougher opponents in long distance fights past 15 rounds vs. live bodies near his size or bigger ( Hart, Griffin and Willard ). I think Ali lands as easily as he did vs. everybody else.

Johnson only went past 20 rounds once, and he lost that fight. So perhaps Johnson’s assumed edge in the distance is not going to be a factor.

Ali via TKO inside 10 rounds.

 

Jack Johnson is great in the clinch, but Ali is a lot bigger, faster and strong in the clinch as well. There's a rumour around that he has a bit of will to win too.

Mis-match. Even with the difference in rules, you can't spot Ali a size-advantage like this.