Jeffries and Johnson's fights with Choynski. Theambush right wobbled Jeffries in the 16th round of their fight. His teeth were imbedded into his lip with the pain so acute that he could not continue. A knife was produced between rounds with two teeth cut out. Spectators wildly cheered the underdog Choynski and his defensive tactics. Spectators booed the draw decision, and the San Francisco Chronicle felt Choynksi deserved a close victory. The referee/judge stated that Jeffries scored the only two knockdowns, both early rounds, and was the more aggressive pugilist. The ambush Choynski right, after a series of left jabs, wobbled a frustrated and surprised Johnson, who desperately hoped to clinch the Jewish pugilist, but instead fell to the ground and could not rise for the 10-count. Both Johnson and Choynksi were arrested on the spot for engaging in an illegal prizefight. As cellmates, Choynski, explained to Johnson that he should be more patient and dictate the pace through defense. Johnson would later state that the knockout loss was the best thing to happen for him as a pugilist. John L, Assessing Johnson. BIG, HUSKY PIECE OF HUMANITY' June 21, 1910.... John L. Sullivan visits the champion's training session: We went into Johnson's room first, saw him strip, and prepare for the general routine of work that he has been doing for the past couple of weeks. We then went into the gymnasium and saw Johnson punch the bag for 15 minutes or thereabouts. He gave a clever exhibition and wound up by knocking the ball from its fastenings out into the hall. After this he donned the gloves for a for-round set-to with Al Kaufman, giving a fair display of his prowess, and after finishing with Kaufman he sparred 4 rounds with George Cotton, which consisted chiefly of roughing and clinching one another backward and forward around the ring, evidently to test his lung power in that direction, as well as to test the strength of his arms.... This is the first time that I have ever seen the husky black, and to say that he has impressed me favorably would be hardly expressing my meaning. He is a big, husky piece of humanity.... (Johnson) went at his work with an alacrity that was really surprising, in view of the 12 mile plug (jog) on the road earlier in the day.... What surprised me more than anything else in Johnson's work in the ring was his stealthy method of action. He seemed a good bit like Fitzsimmons in this respect. Apparently, he does not move around on his feet, and he gives the impression unless you watch him closely that he is not judging distance at all. But when his opponent gets within the proper range a short straddle or slight advance forward as the glove goes out and then you can see that he has judged his distance to a nicety. Johnson ,interviewed by John L. July 2, 1910 ... A brief interview between a legendary champion and the current title holder. Sullivan: How do you feel, Jack? Johnson: Captain John, I never felt better in my life. If I felt any better I would be afraid of myself. Sullivan: Jack, don't you feel just the least bit anxious and nervous hearing all this talk about Jeff's wonderful condition and how they are going to dig his fists out of you when he lands those awful wallops? Johnson: Do you know that I don't feel as much anxiety over this fight as I did just before the Burns fight in Australia. Understand, I wasn't a bit afraid of Burns, but I wasn't treated very well over there by the general public.... I was not among my friends and I tell you that I felt a bit lonesome. But this fight is different. I have got lots of friends here and people whom I really know want to see me win. THE PREDICTIONS: JOHNSON HAS NO CHANCE PREDICTIONS: Tommy Burns: Take it from me. Johnson has not got a chance. Jeffries will defeat Johnson, for the simple reason that in every way he is the champion's physical and mental superior. Jake Kilrain: Jeffries should win. There is no reason why he should not be back to his old form, if he has worked hard. Joe Choynski: I boxed with both Jeffries and Johnson when they were novices. Johnson will find himself pitted against a man much faster, cleverer, and stronger than himself, and he will surprise me if he lasts longer than seven rounds. Bob Armstrong: If Jack Johnson stands up and fights Jeffries, the big fellow won't take long to finish him. If he runs away it only amounts to slow death to him. Personally, I know that Johnson is going to be a pretty much scared fighter before he goes into the ring. James Corbett: Personally, however, I'm sorry that (Jeffries) has not done more fast work, such as boxing and shadow dancing. Because of lack of this sort of exercises I figure Johnson will give him a merry time in the early stages of the fight. Jeffries, however, is in shape to take a beating and he'll be strong and coming when the other fellow is tired. I think Jeffries a sure winner. John L. Sullivan (who clearly hints that he predicts the champion to defend his title): I don't think that I was ever more interested in the outcome of a fight than I am in this one. I am simply being torn this way and that way by the opinions of so many friends here. They know who I think will win. Some of them say I am crazy, and are surprised at my lack of judgment. Sam Langford: I hope that Jeffries breaks Johnson's jaw with the first punch. I think that Jeffries will win inside of 15 rounds if he is in shape. It will sure be a hard fight, a fighter against a mixer. Jeffries has the steam and the punch, while Johnson is pretty clever, but can't hit hard enough to knock Jeffries out. July 4th, 1910: FIGHT OF THE CENTURY Crowd: 25,000: 24,000 males, 1,000 females Ticket price: $50-$10. This content is protected Sullivan's verdict on the fight. 'THE BEST MAN WON' John L. Sullivan, July 5, 1910: The fight of the century is over and a black man is the undisputed champion of the world. It was a poor fight as fights go, this less than 15-round affair between James J. Jeffries and Jack Johnson. Scarcely has there ever been a championship contest that was so one-sided. All of Jeffries much-vaunted condition amounted to nothing. He wasn't in it from the first bell tap to the last ... "The negro had few friends, but there was little demonstration against him. (Spectators) could not help but admire Johnson because he is the type of prizefighter that is admired by sportsmen. He played fairly at all times and fought fairly.... What a crafty, powerful, cunning left hand (Johnson) has. He is one of the craftiest, cunningest boxers that ever stepped into the ring.... They both fought closely all during the 15 rounds. It was just the sort of fight that Jeffries wanted. There was no running or ducking like Corbett did with me in New Orleans (1892). Jeffries did not miss so many blows, because he hardly started any. Johnson was on top of him all the time.... (Johnson) didn't get gay at all with Jeffries in the beginning, and it was always the white man who clinched, but Johnson was very careful, and he backed away and took no chances, and was good-natured with it all.... The best man won, and I was one of the first to congratulate him, and also one of the first to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the beaten man.
Great post!! No matter what Sullivan's racial views were regarding drawing the color line, he always admired Johnson purely for his boxing skills. I admire that in Sullivan, whose love for the game was not skewed by racial tensions at the time. I also read in a huge picture book of the fight, that Sullivan was one of the first men to congratulate Johnson after the fight. To learn he also predicted him, and took heat for it amongst his friends is also a great revelation. Sullivan is the man On another note, hearing those predictions makes me really wish there was a Johnson vs Jeffries prime vs prime match.
John L pays his last visit to Johnson's camp Sullivan visits the champion's camp for mental health reassurance. Sullivan tells Johnson's new manager, Tom Flanagan, that he is depressed and hopes Johnson can cheer him. As usual, the Johnson camp stops activity out of respect for Sullivan. The legend had always been emotional the day before a bout, and even though he is not a participant, the same sort of mood swings appear to haunt him. Jack Johnson is smiling and relaxed. Sullivan asks the Champion how this is possible? Johnson reminds Sullivan of the 1880's, and those Championship bouts that he trained with Muldoon, and agreed their training techniques were superior. (Johnson was being kind, because Sullivan may deserve his legendary status but poorly trained for many of his bouts.) Johnson's pep talk, the kind Sullivan liked best, about the good old days, has the desired effect. Sullivan feels better. Johnson smiles: You just watch me tomorrow, Captain John, and if you don't say after it is all over that I am the greatest fighter of the present age I will think all those nice things you have been saying about me have been pure bunk. Sullivan smiles: Well, Jack, I want to shake hands with you once again, and all I have got to say is, just think of your old Mammy there in Chicago who is hoping and praying for you, and you will do your best. I haven't a doubt. I will say the same to you that I said to Jeffries a few days ago, and it is my old motto ---- may the best man win. Sullivan seems to have been rooting for Jeffries ,but not been blinded by it, he also showed sportsmanship and even - handedness in the build up to the fight. These extracts come from Christopher James Shelton's site ,he contributes to CBZ, among others. One thing I also learned , was that Sam Langford was scheduled to fight, Al Kaufmann , [on the 18th of June 1910] ,Johnson's chief sparring partner for the Jeffries fight . The fight was cancelled .
JOHN L. SULLIVAN: LARGER THAN LIFE John L. Sullivan was a larger than life celebrity even as he held the champion title. He was proud of his Bostonian roots. George Godfrey, from Prince Edward Island, fought through Boston until an 1883 knockout of Professor Hadley (officiated by Sullivan) had him crowned as "Colored Champion." Sullivan and Godfrey nearly battled twice. The first confrontation, before Sullivan was champion, was stopped by Boston police. Godfrey was offered the opportunity to fight the "White Champion," Sullivan, and unify the title. Godfrey delayed and asked for more time to prepare. By this time alcohol would create a monster out of Sullivan. Drunken brawls were common, along with arrests, lack of conditioning and a foul-mouthed racist tongue. Sullivan declared that he would never fight a Black Champion for the title. The popular Godfrey offered credibility, so when he lost his title to Peter Jackson in 1888, with the parting words: I lost to the greatest boxer in the world, it fueled a desire for a Black Champion to fight for a unified title. Parson Davies took over as manager and promoter of Jackson. For two years, 1890-91, they chased John L. Sullivan throughout America to force a fight. They came close. Sullivan was mortified and angered by the unwanted attention and pressure to prove that he could defeat Jackson. Alcohol had made an old man of Sullivan, so that by the time that he lost his title, by knockout loss to James Corbett, he was an embittered and suicidal personal mess
