Time to lay to rest the nonsense that Jack Johnson feasted on smaller opponents.

If you think of the great trainers the early ones appeared in the 20's working with fighters and by 1930s they appeared to have been a regular appearance with fighters and more gyms started to spring up.

 

Really, though?

There may have been gyms but very few trainers.

 

Good fighters don't go life and death with .500 fighters. He was passable at best. He beat a dozen fighters in his entire career, many of which he faced over and over, many of which beat him in return. Belts can be trinkets and sparring can just be practice. Results, however, are what interest me.

 

Interesting point. I'll add to it that I think this sort of reasoning holds merit not only because of the change in regulations post-Walker Law, but because by the time of the Walker Law, a lot of the old school had retired or were on their way out as fighters and on their way in as trainers. Guys like Jack Blackburn for instance, one of the best technicians of his day, was by this time looking to pass on his expertise to the young up and comers. I think the period from the early 20's to the late 30's was probably the biggest developmental stage, and one of the most interesting as a result, in the sport's history.

 

I'm inclined to agree.

 

Excellent presentation J!

 

More or less. Like I stated before: he never fought Mcvey when he was in his prime, and he was one of the bigger guys of that time.

 

Well aware. I use their records for that time period only as a relative measure not an absolute...

 

Good Lord, Bill Armstrong must have seen as a Collosus then...