Finally found a boxing channel properly utilizing new AI tools to restore old fight footage. This is the clearest footage you'll see on Jack Johnson. The channel has a ton of other gems. Enjoy.
Great work on the film. Ketchel looks absolutely clueless. Zero head movement, fighting tall against a taller opponent, trying to punch over his guard, just reaching without setting up openings. Seems like he has never seen a jab before.
Both guys look in great shape but I don't see anything to write home about in terms of skill. Ketchel wouldn't make my top 20 MW list and Johnson wouldn't be in my top 15 HW list.
I especially appreciate the smooth action in the segments which have been sped up. The action looks very natural. The best I have seen in this regard. My only criticism, and it's a very small one, is that I have seen restorations which stabilize the old films so that the picture doesn't jump around at all as this does in the titles and the segments in which the speed has not been adjusted. A very minor matter, but I am just offering this in the spirit of constructive criticism.
When you say suspicious, do you mean deliberately fake or just no punch connection? I always felt that Johnson did carry Ketchel for the cameras but Stan kept trying all the while. I think Ketchel’s overhand right took a relaxed Johnson by surprise in terms of Johnson not anticipating it as he might usually have done. Therefore, Johnson’s evasion was hurried, ducking under the punch but causing Johnson to lose his footing at the same time. Johnson might’ve been angry just for having been made to slip and having Stan disrupt his composure. Note Stan looking to his corner as Johnson slowly rises, probably having instructions shouted at him? Ketchel actually appears concerned - not so much read to follow up his “apparent” advantage. However, Johnson never admitted or implied that the punch didn’t land. Every ref. he made to it was acknowledged that he was hit and knocked down. I know there were rumours that Johnson was supposedly choreographing the KD in sparring with Gunboat Smith prior to the fight. I know Johnson’s defence as presented wouldn’t be as effective against multi punch combos and a decent opposing jab - however, I think given his obvious speed and reflex, it’s not a reach to imagine him “”successfully fleshing out and upping the ante on his D against more sophisticated offence. We’ll never know the whole truth of this fight - of course the way I saw it is just my opinion with some speculation thrown in. This fight will never not be fascinating.
I’ve also wondered about Johnson’s reported weight of 209 lb. Sure, Jack had some decent musculature but somewhat thin legs. He apparently weighed 194 lb for Burns yet just 1 year later vs Ketch, he’s a whole 15 lbs heavier without one ounce of fat? I mean, he might’ve been a touch emaciated in 1908 and he does look a bit better fed in 1909 but that’s quite a difference. Almost like a Holyfield transformation from CW to HW. I’ve read Johnson did some sort of muscle building training post title win but not much detail beyond that.
He’s a godsend to us boxing fans. He also procures rare footage - his upload of the 66 Ali-Jones exhibition is priceless. Gives you hope for some other stuff that has yet to see the light of day to possibly surface.
