James Jeffries KO loss to Johnson

What he did to even get back into decent condition is absolutely legendary.

He was so far from his prime , he was far from even resembling his former self. This fight was doomed from the start But I have nothing but respect for Jim doing what he did.

The man has had a tarnished reputation for far to long, he was a gifted athlete with the willpower of a mountain goat. Undefeated in his day, no easy out for anyone.

 

Imagine a modern day fighter coming off a six year retirement and losing a third of his body weight and then going 15 rounds with a prime champion. Now imagine Jeffries in his prime and what he may have accomplished against Johnson. I suspect a different outcome entirely.

 

Only because johnson carried him, had he wanted to I’m sure Jack could’ve ended it by the fourth. Jeffries was done.

 

Jeffries had nothing to be ashamed of. It was a passing of the touch and he did everything he possibly could in that situation.

 

Yep, Jack def. carried Jeff. Even so, I give Jeff all credit for soaking up the punishment he did before falling. The beating he endured is right up there among the most brutal in boxing.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons said Johnson could have ended it anytime he wanted to.

 

A brave man in a hopeless situation ,which was entirely created by erroneous ideas of racial superiority.

 

Excellent point! I analogize this to Jeffries KO3 Peter Jackson, who similarly had been inactive for 6 years. A young, inexperienced, pre-prime pre-title Jeff blasted through a legend in a mere 3 rounds after that legend had sat on the shelf for a very long time. Likewise, the legendary Jeff sat on the shelf for a very long time, with no fights for 6 years, and got beat as well, but it took 15 rounds in the hot Nevada sun against a prime ATG Johnson for him to be stopped.

The cycle continues to this day. Some old shot fighter will get beat and then a lot of folks will try to engage in revisionism and say, "Oh, he never was that good." They do that to Fury and Wilder now, and they'll eventually do it to Usyk too if he sticks around long enough.

 

Jeffries went almost 15 rounds and showed heart, but Johnson’s style has to be factored in — he was a cautious, defensive strategist who wore guys down, not a Foreman or Tyson who’d blast you out early. The fight shattered the myths of Jeffries’ inhuman strength, endless stamina, and unbreakable chin. He wore down, got tired, and was knocked off his feet three times — images that stuck with the public and killed the legend. After years of inactivity and in front of the whole world, there was no way he could live up to the romanticized hype built in the two-year lead-up.

 

"Wilder"

When was he that good? What proves it?

 

I watched the fight again and I was impressed by the strength of Jeffries. Even dough he was completely shot and retired for 6 years, he managed to push Johnson in the clinches. His physical strength was superior to the strength of Johnson. However, he didn't have an answer to Johnson's uppercuts in the clinches.
If we examine the match, we will see that Jeffries was not severely beaten and the match was not one-sided for 15 rounds. I would say the match was competitive before Jeffries became exhausted (around round 10). The first knockdown was bad but Jeffries had been already tired and gassed out (the weather was very hot and he didn't have the stamina he used to have when he was actively boxing). The second knockdown was done when Jeffries tried to get up on his feet and was not a hard blow. The third knockdown was more like a slip and Jeffries went down by himself in order to avoid the punches of the attacking Johnson. After the match was over, Jeffries got up on his feet and was not even wobbling.