Johnson would have to be careful not to get caught with any right hands by Madcap Maxie. Baer's chances of winning tended to increase when he landed a right hand...:yep
A" Blackwash" for Johnson . Amsterdam's using the fat ill trained 37 year old Johnson 's ko by Willard as a prop to give Baer a real chance ,makes as much sense as using the Baer who was stopped by Nova instead of the guy who wrecked Schmeling.
I don’t think many men would have fun w Max Baer even if his defense was horrendous. If Willard could beat him I’m taking Max. I tend to think very lowly of pre Luis fighters though
An old Johnson was brought in to spar with Firpo and sharpen him up, he toyed with him and was asked to leave. Asked how hard Firpo hit he said,"I couldn't tell you, I didn't let him hit me."
Johnson was ancient and out of shape, and Willard had to wait until Johnson was worn out from well over 20 rounds in the sun. Baer would give up after getting clowned for a few rounds.
Why not? Choysnki knocked him cold, Gun Boat Smith in a 4 round exhibition match did the same. Ketchel who didn't land much hurt Johnson by his own words. And we saw what Willard did. Baer's 80 reach I think would bother Johnson, and he certainly hit hard enough to produce a KO at any given moment. Unskilled guys like Ross rocked Johnson. The questions to me before I can make a pick are how motivated are these two, and how many rounds is the contest?
Smith didn't knock Johnson out in that spar and he never claimed he did. After being stopped by Choynski in 1901 Johnson went another 14 years before being stopped,he was never stopped in his prime and the only kd against him in that time is the Ketchel one which may have been a fake. Johnson was 37 years old when Willard finally nailed him and it took him 26 rds to do so. Johnson played with Ross. If Schaaf x2 Heeney Risko x 2 Kennedy Braddock Uzcudun Levinsky De Kuh Loughran None of whom had Johnson's defence, could go the distance with Max, [ and some of them beat or drew with him,] Johnson, barring a lucky punch should have no problem.
