Johnson v The Avoided?

There is a taped interview with Smith in Peter Heller's book "In This Corner".He talks about sparring with Johnson ,and his various fights.

 

Ross,Moran ,and Flynn, had allready been beaten by Johnson prior to them losing to Smith.

 

Do you mean.
Barry
Willis
Barry
Miller
Geyer
Geyer
Stewart
Flynn
Carpentier
Levinsky
Langford
Dillon
Weinert
Bell
Coffey
Dillon
Flynn
Morris
Levinsky
Cowler
Levinsky
Dillon
Norfolk
Norfolk
Dempsey
Fulton
Weinert
Walker
Turner
Miske
Greb
Miske
Dempsey
Kruvosky
McCormick
Farmer
Tate
Fulton
Anderson
Wiggins
Roper
Greb
Roberts
Martin
Wills
?????

Mendoza appears to beleive that Johnson ducked Smith,,an opinion NOT confirmed by Smith when he was interviewed.
Gunboat had ONE good year ,1913 ,which coincided with Johnson taking it on the lam, to become a fugitive and exile from the States.
Smith's best victory is an extremely debatable decision over Sam Langford ,avenged shortly after with interest ,via a devastating 3rd ko.

There is nothing in Smith's record to suggest that he would have made a viable opponent for Johnson,he was beaten multiple times and kod 12 times.His best victories apart from his win over Willard, who was having his 15th fight, were over men Johnson had allready comprehensively beaten

 

Gunboat fougt Moran twice the first time Moran was not considered a contender.They fought again , when Moran was more established , but by then he had been beaten by Johnson in between times.Moran allmost kod Smith in their second fight .

 

I would not expect you to agree with me ,indeed I would be astonished if you did
Spin? How's this?
Frank Moran was a more viable contender when he fought Johnson , than when he first fought Smith.He was coming of a ko of Al Palzer a leading heavyweight.
When Smith fought Moran in 1916 Moran had lost his last two fights one to Dillon whom he outweighed by 35 1/2lbs.
Moran beat Cowler then lost to Morris and Smith again, he was done as a class man.
If you think Smith should have fought Johnson then realistically it should have been in 1913 when he was going well ,but Johnson was on the run.
Smith fought Wells in London,afterwards he was asked if he wanted Johnson,he said," Johnson will wait ,and the longer he waits the better".

 

The Langford fight was considered to be a very debatable decision ,and Langford bombed him out in 3rds in revenge

In 1912 ,when Smith beat Moran ,Moran had 15 fights and won only 7 of them ,in fact he had lost 3 consecutively before he lost to Smith ,to Kubiak 18-10-2
Kennedy1-1 -0
Ross 18-7-5.
I submit he was not a contender at that time. By the way Ross who beat him, had been toyed with by Johnson in 1909
Willard was still a work in progress with only 15 fights, he would have another 11 before he met the 37 year old Johnson.
I dont know how many times you are going to mention that Gunboat Smith knocked Jack Johnson down in a 4 rd sparring match.
What does that prove?

Toxie Hall dumped Marciano on his arse.
Greg Page dropped Tyson.
Should they have got title shots?
One was a former alphabet champion,the other an experienced a pro fighter,with over 26 fights under his belt, against the likes of
Archie Moore
John Holman
Bob Baker
Harold Johnson

They were certainly better qualified .At the time.Smith was not even a licensed boxer, he was a sailor awol from his ship.
Smith never claimed that Johnson was in danger ,and it is entirely possible he caught an unprepared Johnson unawares,whatever , the incident did not qualify him for a title shot.
You are infinitely qualified to talk about spin,because , on this forum, you have no peer at applying it.