This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Jeffries seen here in May 1910 ,[ this was two months before he challenged Johnson in Reno ,] when he was a month past his 35th birthday. Jeffries looks in better condition than the vast majority of Wlad's challengers,imo.
He was in monstrous shape. He had nearly a year to get there but nonetheless did a great job. Plus you have to factor in his relatively short pro career, it was what, nine years between his first fight and his retirement? Nineteen fights total? About half of which didn't go longer than five rounds? Some people act like Johnson beat up some old, washed-up, out-of-shape punchdrunk pug. Far from it. Jeff was past his best, sure, but the guy Johnson beat was a determined, in-shape fighter who was only three years older than him, and he absolutely, absolutely dominated him.
Yes,he was in good shape,but rusty and old as hell. Shame he got lured back to the ring by the racist shithead mentality of the times. Johnson would have won had it been a prime for prime scenario. Obviously the fight would have been more competitive.
If Jeffries had not retired and had fought Johnson in 05 or 06 there is no way Johnson would of taken a decision from jefries and I think Johnson would of realised this and won by stoppage
I was flicking through some old issues of Boxing (Boxing News) recently and this thread reminded me of something I read. Seems Jeffries was in the UK and spending time with the Boxing News staff and the following appeared in an October 1909 editorial regarding his condition: This content is protected
Excellent insight! N. B .Jeffries had nearly 18 months to prepare for Johnson. So Jeffries lost 50lbs in that time he was never, "over 300lbs", as has been claimed . Your interview ,dated October 1909 ,was presumably conducted when he was enroute for home after his stay in Carlsbad. He states he weighs 230lbs, that's 9 months before the fight. He confirmed to Sam Berger that he would becoming back to face Johnson, in early 1909, and Berger signed the contract on his behalf in August 1909. Jeffries was down to fighting weight in OCTOBER 1909 when he came back from a health farm in Carlsbad. Here's the proof.To back up the interview. http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...3ggAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fWcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3244,3160484
