In this article Johnson gives his opinion why Southern born black fighters can not win the Heavy crown. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SCE0ypLQHGcC&dat=19290418&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
This is all Johnson hogwash. Johnson himself was born in the South. Plenty of Southern-born black fighters could beat white fighters, or were ducked by them.
Johnson says he is the contradiction to the rule ,because he was raised in the company of whites, and treated as an equal by them.You don't have to accept his opinion, I just thought it might be of interest since there are several current threads on him. Next time I'll clear it with you first before posting.
Ah, man, it's cool, and it was interesting. But I think he's talking out of his rear. He may have some points, but really, if you look at it objectively and rationally, I don't think southern blacks went into the ring with some great inability to win owing to their fear of their white opponents. The fight results speak for themselves. For example, Joe Gans was from Maryland, a southern state, and he beat plenty of white fighters.
I think you are right ,but Larry Gains said Godfrey was a terror to black fighters yet ,strangely passive against many white boys , maybe he had the hand cuffs on? And maybe, some of those results really don't speak for themselves?
Not seeing it. Godfrey beat some good white fighters, but lost to some too. But he also beat some good black fighters and lost to them too, as well. I just see him as a fighter with mixed results in general in an era with a lot of fighters of varying caliber both black and white.
