Video examples of Jack Johnson strength

Jeffries was noted for his strength and no doubt he was a very strong man, but charges that Johnson only fought smaller opponents could realistically be more accurately levelled at Jeffries.Johnson pinned Jeffries arms to his sides and frogmarched him backwards into his own corner whilst saying to Jim Corbett,"where do you want him Mr Corbett?"

 

Some on this site equate great strength with great size or muscularity. Yet some of the strongest men in many sports were not excessively hugh or excessively "cut".
A couple of my favorite American Football players, like Reggie White and Vince Wilfork routinely tossed over 300 lbs offensive Linemen around like ragdolls . George Foreman's physical strength was legendary, yet he himself said he couldn't move Sonny Liston physically . Liston was smaller than Foreman.
Foreman's fight game was based on his physical strength, and his ability to push opponents off balance. That strength enabled him to fight successfully into his mid 40's winning a championship when other fighters his age were sitting in rocking chairs after they lost the most important elements of their game, usually reflexes, timing, etc
Most men AND women were stronger physically during Jack Johnson's era than they are today, though physically they may have looked smaller.
The work they usually did during that time usually required great strength.
Using sledgehammers , hand saws, or just pulling bags of Cotton all day in 90 degree weather took strength not required in today's world.
I'm sure Jack Johnson's could manhandle many of today's "giants" in comparison to him.
Technically is where I have my doubts.
The biggest advantages today where physical strength is concerned is the " manufactured" type by taking certain chemicals into the body, usually by injections.

 

George blows smoke up Sonnys bung hole all the time nothing new mate he was also what nineteen?

 

I do think Johnson was strong for his size, but his clinching worked on film vs the much smaller and short, or in this case vs, a old man who had been out of the ring for six years.

I hate to break it to you 70's by I could take ANY mans arm, and with my weight push it backward when he's not expecting it.

Pulling Moran down behind his head, and shoving is a move that would get a warning in modern boxing. In this fight Johnson hit on the break too.

If all you have is 5 seconds of action in films that go 20 minutes, it's not a very convincing case. Johnson can be seen manhandling the 5'7" 168 pound Tommy Burns and the 5'9 more like 155 pound Ketchel the entire fight, not just for a 5 second clip.

If this is spin off go the Johnson vs Tyson thread, Tyson comes in moving and throwing punches. He's not there to be held or bulled around.

 

When they locked up and Jeffries wasn't tired, he was pushing Johnson backward. Watch the films.

Yeah, most fighters can illegally cinch someone behind the head, put their weight down on it, and then shove the other guy backwards when he's not expecting it. These are cheap antics.

Your entire argument is on a 5 second clip and has nothing at all to do with how Tyson fights.

Like I said, manhandling all fight can be seen vs Tiny Tommy, Ketchel and Flynn.

 

18.. And still you have ******s mentioning this sparring session like evidence of anything. PLUS THEY NEVER WATCHED IT.

 

An alternative view of that is by making/allowing your opponent to push you back is a recognised strategy to test and stress your opponents strength/stamina.
Johnson assessing the vaunted strength that Jeffries was known for, and sapping the stamina that older age and extreme weight loss had likely taken from him to some degree.

 

Jeffries was an old man at 35 ?Johnson was 32. Jeffries wasn't expecting Johnson to clinch with him?
Jeffries opponents 5'8"185lbs Sharkey 27lbs advantage ,Sharkey 2 25lbs weight advantage ,39 years old 172lbs Fitz1, 47lbs weight advantage and 12 years age , Fitz2, 39lb s weight advantage,Choynski 52lbs weight advantage.Finnegan 40lbs weight advantage.

• Rd1."They clinched Jack pushed Jeff's arm backwards and showed much strength. " "They clinched and jostled again,Johnson pushed out of the clinch and landed another left". " Johnson pushed Jeff's left forearm back so he could not use it".
• Rd2."The closed together and clinched Jeffries tried to crowd and put his weight on Johnson in the clinches.With his golden smile Johnson said," dont love me so ",Jack followed his comment with a short right to the jaw."This was the round Jeffries re-opened a cut on Johnson's lip with a head butt.In the clinch Jack titled Jeff's head back with a right uppercut again.Using his right he pushed Jeff's arm back as if in a hammerlock." Everyone said now wait until the **** feels that bear strength."However Johnson lifted Jeffries and set him aside a foot,easily, and gracefully without effort.That stunned everyone and they groaned Robert Edgren now said,"It's all over" Tom Sharkey said"My God, its no contest".
• Rd3."Johnson twice jabbed the face,and also whipped in a short right to the face.A long clinch followed,Johnson took Jeffries left forearm in his right hand and deliberately pushed it back ,holding it as long as he wished,Jeff could not move,no one had ever done that to him".
• Richard Barry said that in the clinches Johnson was able to seize Jeffries left arm,his best arm and prevent it's use,which was like a death blow."The round ended with Johnson waving to friends and chuckling as he went back to his corner"
• Rd 4 was the round Johnson said the only round Jeffries did well in, Jeff landed a good left to the stomach but Johnson took it well and smiled .Jeffries landed a low blow in this round but it was unintentional.Jeffries landed 3 lefts to the stomach Johnson a straight left to the mouth and three uppercuts each of which lifted Jeff's head in the air".
• In the corner between rounds Johnson looked down at John L Sullivan and told him Jeffries could not hit hard." Johnson began to fight in earnest in the 6th round, closing Jeffries eye and bloodying his nose and cutting his cheek bone."Johnson showed his class in a flash of real fighting.With startling quickness Johnson fired a left to the body and three stinging left hooks on the sore mouth and face ,driving Jeffries to the ropes." And these are the first 6 rounds when Jeffries was still fresh!
• I remember you telling us that, after ten rounds there was nothing in it and it could have been ruled a draw at that point!
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• During the 7th round Corbett turned to Jeffries brother and said ,"your brothers licked what shall we do?"

 

This. Johnson was a very strong man. In an old interview Godfrey mentioned that Johnson wasn’t only a brilliant boxer, but that he was also very strong.

My Grandfather’s barber went to a few of Johnson’s fights in the 1920’s when admittedly Johnson was past his prime, but he used to talk about Johnson muscling Pat Lester around, who was a big and strong guy himself. Even Willard wasn’t muscling Johnson around in the clinch.

 

It makes me so frustrated.... there partly evaluating Sonny on a sparring match with an eighteen year old kid... with no film

 

Not only was Johnson freakishly strong but he was a master at leverage .. he knew how and where to clinch to maximize his strength .. you see this time and again in the footage that exists ..