Tommy Burns' Top Heavies List

This is actually part of a whole series of articles by Johnson printed in this paper over several weeks. He gives his account of the Willard, Jeffries and Ketchel fights and also his views on the likes of Dempsey, Tunney, Wills, Leonard and Joe Walcott (whom he says was the best ever). Like most crusty old-timers, he doesn't rate most of the current generation. There's some obvious BS in there as well, but worth checking out for anyone interested in him.

 

Joe Gans was another friend and one time employer.

 

Maher sparred Johnson too, when Peter was down and out, Jack visited him in the hospital and gave him some money.

 

Bump

 

But how would Walcott have any real use for someone Johnson's size as a sparring partner? I mean I know he was a tough little ******* but even so...

 

It's a matter of record that he employed him in that capacity.
Don't forget Walcott took on fighters in several weight classes.

 

Immediately after the fight he said Willard was too strong for him and beat him fairly.

 

You think the underlined belong in a top ten of that period?

 

O'Brien and Burns met 3 times, here are the results.

1907 Burns Won
1906 Draw
1905 O' Brien Won

 

Johnson called Dempsey, "basically a four round fighter ,weather the early storm ,and he becomes just another hooker."

 

I'd disagree myself.

 

There used to be similar footage of James J Jeffries (taken down for some reason) that apparently consisted of outtakes from some promotional film or public service announcement he was filming. It ends with him forgetting his line in mid-sentence, then wearily rubbing the back of his neck and muttering "Aaaaand we're goin' again...".

Recordings like this combine two of my fascinations: the history of boxing and the change of spoken English over time. Tommy Burns almost sounds Irish, especially when he says "hwurld". (Jeffries sounds a lot more like I'd expect. In fact he sounds a lot like my great uncle Gus.)

 

I don't doubt it but surely Johnson would have to go easy on him? He was built like a tank for his height but I think he was only 5'2". I wonder if his style was heavily tilted toward grappling, even for the time...