Johnson said the first time he saw Jeffries in action, he knew he was made for him. This was at Oakland ,when Jeffries was training to fight Kennedy. Page 10 below. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SCE0ypLQHGcC&dat=19290422&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
There you go again. Not reading the papers that say Jeffries bulled guys around the ring. There is a film clip of Sharkey charging in, Jeffries lifts Sharkey into the air and for a moment looks like he might body slam Sharkey, then sets him down.
What year was this? 1901? Sure--Johnson gets KO by Choysnki, and looses to a past his prime Griffin, who the papers described as looking like a famine survivor in 1901 and then claims Jeffries was made for him! Odd thoughts by Johnson. Take note Jeffries floored both Choynski and Griffin multiple times, and Johnson failed to do the same and lost to the same fighters in 1901.
Griffin was described as ," looking like a famine sufferer ,"when he fought Jeffries,NOT Johnson. "Griffin went down from a push in the first round and was knocked down twice by clean punches in the second. From then on he was in survival mode to claim the $100 forfeit. One report, prior to the start of the bout, described Griffin looking like a "famine sufferer". Attendance: 5,000" Griffin was down twice ,hardly multiple times. That's what we call in the UK "an own goal". Jeffries had 40 lbs on Griffin. In 1901, Johnson was a big middleweight Stop foaming at the mouth.
For his time, The man was a 'brute force'. Maybe the closest to 'unbeatable' in his time period, as any Heavyweight.
No doubt, but his bullet proof suit was really only tested against light heavyweights. Maybe if he had fought some of the stature of Liston,Foreman,Lewis, we might not think him quite so invincible? The guy had a top chin, I have been convinced of that now, but taking shots from men 40-60lbs lighter round after round IS different to asbsorbing the big guns from the trio I mentioned. And, would he be able to wear down big heavyweights the same way he eventually did the much smaller men he beat ? Bottom line. Jeffries never beat a man of any class who was his size ,with the sole exception of Ruhlin ,who had been half killed 15 months earlier by Fitzsimmons.
Durable, an attritioning body puncher, not easy to hit in a vital area, a very big strong man for the turn of that century. Fought in a period which accentuated his positives. Developed a lot as a champion. Should have kept his initial pledge to defend regardless of race of opposition -- at very least, shouldn't have announced color line. Should have shown Johnson atleast professional respect at Reno.
Jeffries refused to, acknowledge the telegram that Johnson sent him congratulating him for accepting the fight. Refused to shake hands with Johnson at the contract signing. He told Rickard he would not shake hands with Johnson in the ring and no attempt was made to see that he did. Jeffries did not shake hands with Johnson after the fight . Though Johnson approached him with that intention. Johnson went over to Jeffries corner at the end of the fight to commiserate with Jeffries and was waved away. The only contact Jeffries had with Johnson afterwards was to ask Jim Corbett to see if Johnson would let him have his gloves as a souvenir. Johnson made a statement after the fight, commending Jeffries for his courage ,and gameness,and for a clean fight. Jeffries did not respond. Not the Master Race's shining hour.
McVey,,,,,, I'm getting the feeling that Jim Jeffries disliked 'The Black Race'. Or maybe a lack of 'sportsmanship'. But in reality, Jim Jeffries did not want to come back to fight. He 'was' retired. I think he agreed to come back, just to appease others, and not himself. He had 'absolutely' nothing to gain.
While I agree in part, that's a bit unfair. Frazier, who had the heart of a lion and a solid chin was demolished by Foreman. Chuvalo, who is probably the consensus pick for best heavyweight chin, had to go into a shell to avoid being overwhelmed by Foreman. Mercer had a cast iron jaw and was dropped by Evander Holyfield in his prime. Tua touched down against Rahman. My point is- if you face men solely above 200 pounds eventually you're going down. I don't case who you are of you are hittable, at some point you're going to run into a punch that is putting you into dreamland. To expect jeffries to be the exception is unfair.