I need to know how big the Marciano fans would make Jack Johnson under modern training techniques before I can answer this one... but I'm thinking Vitali ko1
I have to ask why that would be important? When Jack Johnson beat Jim Jeffries, he weighed 208lbs. He was basically as big as Evander Holyfield when he won the title, without having tried to bulk up. With modern methods, he could perhaps be 220lbs without loosing anything, but would he even need to be?
With another 20-30lbs of lean muscle, I'd probably give him a slightly higher chance of making it out of round 1.
Johnson was a very physical guy who fought in a very physical era. Was he used to wrestling with someone Vitali's size? We know what happened with one Jess Willard. I'll admit, two of my favorite biases are at play here. I tend to favor the modern guys, and I tend to favor size. I think Vitali would wear him out, knock him out.
Vitali. The only way I see Johnson winning is if he parried VKs shot's similar to how Chris Byrd did and that caused an injury. Jack was good at that, but besides that I don't know what else he could do.
I'm enjoying the banter in this thread, I'll take Vitali in a fairly boring decision. Jack would be competitive but I don't think he has the work rate to outshine his bigger foe. I'd imagine quite a lot of the fight would be spent trying to dictate range, which should generally suit Vitali.
Realistically Kovalev stops Johnson in 3. Under history forum rules, Johnson decisions Vitali and then knocks out Wlad in the same night (plus spars Povetkin between the rounds).
I agree with this post. :good Vitali was a very methodical, tough fighter who paced himself well. Johnson isn't going to physically manhandle a 40lb heavier, more muscular fighter. And putting the fight over a longer period will imho suit Vitali down to the ground, as he lands his 1-2 over and over till Johnson looks like Briggs at the end of his encounter with Vitali. I also think Vitali is way, way better than Willard ever was. I wouldn't say Jack was featherfisted by any means, but he lacks the power, imo, to significantly degrade the huge Klitschko for the long-haul win. If Sanders, who if nothing else, had very quick, hard hands, couldn't land very much on Vitali, then Johnson is doomed.