What % chance would you give prime Johnson against prime Jeffries?

Jeffries himself said he'd have little chance against Johnson even when Prime. A punchers chance and not much more IMO.

 

Prime Jeffries stated to Johnson’s face that he would gladly meet him for free in the cellar under lock and key to which Johnson declined.

 

Lol. Tyson, always the boxing historian, said this to Holyfield.

I go with Johnson narrowly, although I am not voting because I am not buying into this percentage thing.

 

Let's see, Johnson lost to Choysnki ( via KO, out cold ) quit or lost via TKO to Klondike, lost to Hank Griffin, drew with a faded Pete Everett, and drew with a McCormick, who according to box rec had a losing record of the times. Johnson also lost a high stakes match to Hart in 1905, not coping well with his activity.

For those who think Jack's prime was in 1909, he was TKO'd in an exhibition match with GB Smith, outboxed according to primary sources vs O'Brien, hurt by the one clean punch Ross landed in a six round affair, and floored and by his own admission, also hurt vs Ketchel in his prime year.

No one thinks Gun Boat Smith, Ketchel or Ross hit harder than Jeffries.

If you look at common opponents there is a trend:

Jeffries KO's Griffin. Griffin beats Johnson.

Jeffries makes quick work of a prime Pete Everett, Johnson draws a faded version of Everett.

Jeffries makes quick work of the best version of Jack Munroe. Johnson takes a fatter out of shape Munroe the distance.

A green Jeffries floors Choynski and gets a disputed draw. Choynksi quickly KO's Johnson.

I would say Johnson's best overall win is Tommy Burns. Burns was 5'7 1/2" tall, and just 168 pounds. Some say ( A book on Burns and a promise early black prizefighter historians in Kevin Smith ) that Burns was suffering from jaundice.

Burns would not rate among Jeffries top 3 wins, using historians lists that say, Corbett, Fitz, and Sharkey in the times were better.

If they meet in their primes, Jeffries wins via TKO. Johnson could not deal with the power or activity here, and a prime Jeffries was far quicker and with near unlimited stamina, and better skilled than the 35 year old man who had to lose 50+ pounds and had not fought in 6 years that he eventually beat in 15 rounds.

 

That is fake news. What newspaper said this in context? Its a bogus story allegedly reported by some guy on a train. If you read Jeffries report by the news after his defeat in 1910, he clearly states if he was younger, he would have won.

 

Jeffries is definitely the favorite. How anyone can judge Jeffries loss to Johnson poorly, after losing so much weight and years off is still a mystery to me. Jeffries is underrated.

 

DOn't know the newspaper, I heard it from Unforgivable Blackness. Apologies if this is incorrect, I figured PBS would have their **** together.

 

Johnson had the style to beat jeffries....perhaps

 

Tough call if we’re being fair. To me Johnson always had the Style to best Jeffries. However as Mendoza clearly outlined, and not enough people discuss in depth on this site, Jeffries clearly did better against common opponents before his six year layoff. For an old time fighter their is a ton of footage of Johnson and yet very little to gauge anything about prime Jeffries.
I think most people will just choose the fighter they like more as the winner in this matchup.
All I know is the Jeffries Johnson did fight - was not close to the Jeffries that was champion and any conclusion they is based on that fight is wrong to do

 

About 50/50 I would have to say.