Once And For All: Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries

It should also be noted that James Jeffries showed up for the Johnson fight weighing 227 Lbs. This was after having to lose a substantial amount of weight in a very short period of time. Jeffries' best fight weights ranged from about 210-218 when in the prime of his career.

 

Jefries at 227 was only 7lbs heavier than when he beat Corbett in1903 ,he weighed 219 for his last fight the Illustrious Jack Munro,quite an acheivment really considering he had to take off something like 85lbs to get in condition,but the Johnson fight tells us nothing about their chances against each other Jeffries was finished ,his body looked the part but his stamina,strength in the clinches ,and judgement of distance was gone,he didnt sleep the night before ,and told his corner his head "felt *****",and his arms were "heavy"possibly symptons of tension,I dont think Jeffries thought he would win by the time the fight came around,he had told Sullivan "I dont see why I have to be the favourite".He was no longer the invincible "Iron Man".

 

Yes, but this was not his most common weight. If we took every fight that Jeffries ever had, and averaged out his weight over a career, he'd probably come out to about 217 Lbs, which was 10 pounds less than what he showed up for Johnson. Not that it makes a difference, but its one more thing to consider when looking at the whole picture.

 

You find though as men age they gain weight,compare Alis first reign ,his weight was probably averaging at around 212,during his comeback in would have been 12 to 16 pounds heavier ,I think this follows for every heavyweight Champion even the lighter ones like Fitz and Corbett weighed more as thety get older .I dont seethe significance of this as it applies to Jeffries,no one is suggesting that he was anything but a remnant of the fighter he had been,by the way Johnson was in top shape at 208 when he met the faded Jeffries,but I was decried as making excuses when I mentioned that Johnson was fat and out of shape when he weighed 221 fof Moran.

 

I think the salient point is that, even after some EXTREME weight cutting, he still could not make his best weight against Johnson. It's as if Johnson was 221 for Moran (and you do have a point about him being out of shape there) AFTER shaving off a hundred pounds.

Worst case scenario from both ends.

 

I think another point worth considering is mental stamina. Johnson's temperament would enable him to make that sort of 45-rounder -- one conducted under tremendous international pressure -- against his best opponent more easily than Jeffries.

Jeffries was very determined to fight an angry fight, and I don't that would have changed if the clock had been dialed back a few years. That anger ultimately would conspire against him.

Moreover, Johnson could fight his fight with less physical exertion than that required of Jeffries, and ultimately I think he's too smart, too quick and too economical. And the difference in strength isn't enough for Jeff to compensate for his disadvantages.

 

I think Johnson combination punching was too much for him. Jeffries would be outclassed in the end. Johnson by decision.:good

 

Conbination punching? WTF are you talking about?

 

Johnson was a great combination puncher. Jeffreis never had to deal with 4 and 5 punches coming at him from different angles like that. He would be outclassed.:good

 

Looking at your avatar, your pick seems pretty predictable... but nothing new from you!

 

So Johnson didn't throw combinations?

 

He was the 2nd best combination puncher ever, only slightly after the greatest boxer ever, Muhammad Ali... :thumbsup

 

Stop that. You know what I mean. Johnson was really the first HW who threw rapid fire combinations. Jeffries wouldn't be used to this.

 

But you totally overact. His biggest weapon was, to tired up the smaller and pysically much weaker men because of his clinching. Against Jeffries, he couldn´t do that.

 

Johnson was able to do that to jeffries anyway, so I don't see your point.

Watch Johnson finish off Burns, and you'll see what I'm talking about when I say combinaton punching. Jeffries would have to deal with that. Johnson would use variety of punches to pile up the points.