Prime Jim J. Jefferies .Vs. Jack Johnson

Possibly a fair point regarding Louis, i was tempted to put that exception in my original post as Louis was squite solid against Marciano. Dempsey would not trouble Tunney in the slightest outside a small portion wherre he dropped tunney for the long count. I willl admit my knowledge of Jeffries vs Johnson is limited to clips and may be a little clouded by descriptions given by Mendoza on this board, as i havent actually seen the fight. Have you? If Mendozas descriptions are believed, Jeffries, seemed to certainly truoble Johnson more than Tyson or Dempsey did. While considering things, you could also throw in Ali vs Holmes, Holmes v Tyson, and many others. By all rights, Jeffries should have been further removed from his prime than any of them.

 

Watch the available film of the fight and make up your own mind,I think your opinion may then be at variance with Mendoza's.

 

After Hart defeated Johnson in 1905, Jeffries said he fight Hart is the public wanted to see it. There was not enough money in it so Jeffries retired.

Regardless of who won the fight between Hart and Johnson ( Johnson said Hart whipped him ) , Hart was several notches below Jeffries. I can't see Johnson winning in 1904-1905.

Munroe got a title shot for lasting 4 rounds with Jeffires in an exhibition match. Even though he was floored a few times Hart spun things around with the press, which secured him a title match.

Had Johnson accepted the bar fight with Jeffries, perhaps he could have used a similar tactic to force fight. Some Historians feel that had Johnson beaten Hart, there might have been enough money and interest for Jeffries to fight Johnson in an exhibition match similar to Griffin, or even a real title match if the money was high enough.

What fighters say and do when the money is up are often different?

 

No. Ketchel fought mostly at middle weight. The fighters I mentioned fought at heavyweight. Ketchel did floor Johnson though.

 

It isnt unreasonable to think Jeffries would beat Johnson at all ,prime for prime I think he runs him close.the facts are he wasnt in the fight with Johnson,who boxed in second gear for the first half of the fight,for Johnson it was his moment in the sun ,redemption,and he had no wish to make it a short one,Jeffries was finished maybe if he had a warm up fight or two things might have been more competitive, but equally maybe the public wopuld have realised how far past his prime he was and interest in the match would have evaporated,Im inclined to the latter theory,the sight of Jeffries struggling with a journeyman would probably have sent alarm signals to the powers that be that a royal arse whipping from a Black man for the White symbol of supremacy was in the offing,and the fight would not have taken place.

 

Ketchel twice kod Jack O Brien the LH Champ,who fought a 6 round no decision bout with Johnson.

 

We have to remember Jeffries coming out of retirement was pretty crazy, what was it 6 years inactivity? he gained what 100 pounds while on that farm? I think he was far worse than his prime. I bet a prime jeffries would at least keep coming the whole time and make it a much closer fight.

 

It'd be a great deal more competitive, but Johnson has all the stylistical tools to still edge the contest.