Where would Hart that fought Johnson rate on Johnson's title opponents list?

IMO number 1.

 

Hard to say.

I would be verry reluctant to give him the No1 slot.

Sandy Ferguson and Tony Ross both beat up Hart, and George Gardiner defeated him.

 

I thought Hart bettered Ferguson and post Burns Hart seemed to have lost the desire.

 

This is something I lifted from a book I have JACK JOHNSON: My Life and Battles

"I didn't know my future opponent personally, but based on everything we knew about his performances and how sure I was that we would be worthy of eachother, I was overjoyed at the idea of finally fighting a man in my league. I delighted in advance in what I thought would be one of the best moments of my life.
I must say up front that the man in no way dissappointed me; from the opening bell of the fight, his performance never failed for a moment to be interesting for all concerned. I nonetheless never doubted for a second that I could bring him down. I knew that i was completely dominating him and so did everyone in the crowd. I was so sure of victory on points that I didn't think for an instant that I wouldn't get it. Imagine my surprise and disgust whern the judge, at the end of the twentieth round, gave the win to Marvin Hart.
At least I had the satisfaction of seeing that the judges decision did not meet with the approval of one single spectator, other than Hart and his personal friends. The event ended in an uproar; for a few minutes it turned into an actual brawl. I didn't hesitate to declare that I had been robbed and the vast majority of the crowd agreed with me. It was plain as day that bets had been placed: the bettors had made arrangements with the judge and I was their victim."

 

Hart was awarded the decision over Ferguson but it seems to have been regarded as something of a robbery at the time.

 

Hart beating Jim Jeffries at any stage in his career would have been seen as a ridiculous notion in those days.

 

Not necisarily.

Martin, McVea, Langford, Burns and others might have had better claims.

 

Just re-reading Hart-Ferguson fight reports, it's a bit like Hart-Johnson. Ferguson showed the class and better punching while Hart did all the leading and graft.

 

1. Batlting Jim Johnson
2. Kaufmann
3. Willard
4. Jeffries -old and near 5 years inactive
5. Ross
6. Moran
7. Flynn
9. Hart
8. Ketchel
10. O'Brien

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROUiZnnFfAw[/ame]
notes: Jim Johnson had the toughest competition of those names list and beat some hall of famers. The others fought each other mostly. The hardest to rate is Jeff because he fought a motivated, prime Jack Johnson and no other contenders. I think he could rate as low as 7. O'Brien and Ketchel class out because of size. Moran and Willard both had the fortune of catching Johnson on his way down.

 

Hart has a number of contests with the top men of his day;
V Ruhlin, 1904.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 21.—Al-.
though Gus Ruhlin may not be all in he
is so far out on the limb that he can-
not be considered as an aspirant for the
heavyweight or the middleweight chaim-epionship honors. That was clearly dem-
onstrated in his six round bout with
Marvin Hart of Louisville at the Nat-
ional Athletic club last night. He never
figured seriously in the milling.Barring
a brief interval in the fifth round, when
he did essay a lead, which caused the
crowd to put up an ironical cheer, "Hur-
rah, Ruhlin leads!" he never took the
initiative. He stalled during the greater
part of the milling and his stalling was
so clumsy that on more than one occas-
ion he was given a roast by tlie spectators.
HIart did effective work in every
round.In the fourth he sent Ruhlin to
the floor .for the count, and at tlie end of
the round he had his opponent groggy
and almost out. Tho minute's rest did
Riuhlin much good and he managed to
stay to the end.'