What year do you think the see-saw tilted in favour of Harry Wills over Jack Johnson

Intruiging question!

 

Willis would beat an old Johnson from 1915 onwards, Willis was an established contender by this point and Johnson was older than Langford. Before that I give Johnson the edge.

 

A more interesting question, is why they never fought?

 

Wills chased him. He foolishly harbored hopes of getting a fight with Johnson in 1912 (he would have gotten his ass kicked) and after that Johnson was on the run in Europe. He challenged Johnson in 1915 before the Willard contest. From that point on Johnson was on the run. In 1920 he went to jail and got out a year later. From that point on Johnson found it impossible to get licensed by any state and had all of his fights out of the country until just before Wills lost to Sharkey. The other question is when the fight COULD have happened realistically: 1921 to 1926, what would Wills have gained by it?

 

Probably would have been a fake fight.

If Johnson got himself in shape, who knows, he might have beaten Wills at any point, and Dempsey, Willard, whoever.
Johnson is hard to figure.

 

Johnson was not only over the hill by the time Dempsey won the title in 1919, he was halfway up the other side.

 

Johnson wasn't interested in fighting accomplished black fighters post 1908, and in my opinion was lucky to escape with a draw vs. Jim Battling Johnson in 1013

Wills I think is a little over rated on skills and power. I question his durability a bit too.

Its plausible Wills could have beaten Johnson in 1914. My best guess is the two sea-sawed in 1915.

 

I was unaware of Wills chasing Johnson as early as 1912! Surely Wills would have been a better choice over Flynn or Jim battling Johnson.

I disagree on what the fight could have done for Wills in 1921-1926. Beating a former lineal champion, even an old one during those times meant something. Examples:

Corbett over Sullivan.

Johnson pretty much earned his legacy by beating an old Jeffries who had not fought in 6 years.

Dempsey's destruction of Willard did the same thing for his legacy.

The other side of the coin is what if it was filmed?! Historians and fans might have seen what Wills looked like in his prime.

 

Yes, Wills even travelled west and sparred with Johnson in prepartion for the Jim Flynn fight but he got his ass whipped.

 

That's true. He was old. But he was out of shape and not taking things seriously. Still, he had an easy time with some of the men Wills was feasting on. Supposedly he gave Firpo fits in the gym in March 1923 too.

 

Did Johnson draw the color line? he only fought one black contender?

 

Two Questions Klompton

1. In a prime vs. prime situation between the two.. who do you favor?

2. Is it true they sparred together and Johnson handled him?

 

Johnson was interested in defending against anyone who could come up with his price of $30,000.

He twice signed to defend against Jeannette in the US the authorities vetoed both attempts by the McMahon brothers to promote the fights.

He signed to tight Langford and McVey in Australia, when news of his flight into exile broke "down under," Hugh McIntosh withdrew his offer.

These are matters of public record and easily found if one really want's the truth ,which of course you do not.
After a year and a half out of the ring ,at the age of 35, Johnson fought Battling Jim Johnson and, after breaking his arm in the 2nd round held on for a draw over 10 rds.

Battling Jim had already beaten Joe Jeannette and Tom Cowler and drawn with Sam McVey.Seven months after drawing with the broken -armed Champion,Battling Jim drew with a sound and healthy Joe
Jeannette,he then later drew with Sam Langford again.

Seventeen months after drawing with Jack Johnson, Battling Jim beat Joe Jeannette and drew with Sam McVey.
If, as you continually say Battling Jim was just a journeyman, how good were the men he was beating and drawing with?:think

PS Still waiting for you to post all the lies I've posted here and still waiting for a primary source that says Jeffries kod Ed Dunkhorst. That's three days now.See you soon!:good

 

Johnson said Willls wasn't capable of giving him a hard work out and called for Marty Cutler to replace him in the ring.Wills was still rather a novice. It's also true Johnson embarrassed Firpo in sparring .When asked if Firpo hit hard Johnson replied," I couldn't tell you,I didn't let him hit me".
Tex Rickard got rid of Johnson because he said he would kill the fight if he let him show Firpo up any more. See later post!