It has been said that Johnson actual best weight was between 175 - 185 or so (Johnson himself said 210). That is the weight most of his best wins took place at is the argument. So if Johnson weighs that much, which fighters at 185 or below do you favor to beat him?
Maybe, but IMO that was another Johnson win looking at it in hindsight. Hart was a bloody mess after the fight, who's face looked like he ran face first into a wall. Johnson look like he was out for a stroll. In all the reports I saw, Johnson landed the harder more accurate blows, and was winning anytime he was really trying. If the fight was scored today, it would be Johnson winning.
I agree that Johnson would have got it today, but Hart probably had a legitimate argument at the time. I suspect that Harts pressure did take some of Johnsons game away.
I don't see anyone below 185 lbs beating prime Johnson.:hey Johnson matured relatively late, he was 192 for Burns and 208 for Jeffries. Under 185 he was skinny.
185 lbs....and Jack Johnson was called "The Galveston Giant" as one of his fighting nicknames? (We are talking Bobby Czyz type weight)
Well at least somebody didn't agree back then, as his other nickname, "Li'l Arthur" cut him down to size! The alliteration in the double "G" probably appealed. But hey, we've gone one better with "Triple G".
As I said Johnson thought his best weight was 210 like for Jeffries. I've just seen others argue that his best wins were between 175 - 190... hence the question. I with you though, if Johnson is 185 or 190 (like for burns) I'm not sure who can beat him at that weight.
He showed up in shape at that weight how many times? And he beat who besides an Alfalfa Farmer who lost 70 pounds to be there? His actual record would lead one to believe 185-192 was his best weight.
One thing I'd like to add, which seemingly is unclear. I meant for the question to be... Who beats Johnson weighing 190 or below. So fighters can be picked who weighed below 190?
Marciano, Dempsey, Holyfield. It's the endless conjecture of how his style would adapt to more modern opponents.
The following fighters beat Johnson below 185 pounds. Choysnki KO win Griffin. Points win Jeannette ( DQ win ) If you raise the bar to 190, you could say Hart. Johnson drew with O'Brien, who was below 180 pounds, and got TKO'd in an exhibition match vs Gun Boat Smith, who was usually below 185 pounds. Klondike might count it he was 185 pounds or lighter when he TKO'd Johnson. Most of Johnson's best wins came at 190 pounds or below. His best weight could range from 190-210. Now none of the above names were as great as some other 185 pound fighters. Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Gene Tunney, and Ezzard Charles to name a few.