Willard vs Johnson. 35 + Min. Several rounds shown

Finest hour? He lied about a fix, and took the count out on his back. How was this his finest hour??? He got what was coming to him having ducked the best 3-4 title opponents out there while he was champion.

Klompton is right by the way, its a reflex motion. Johnson was not shielding himself from the sun by design.

Certainly Jack Welsh, who had referred the bout, did not believe that the fight was fixed. He said that Johnson was so confident that the night before the match the he bet $2,500 on himself to win. Having a ref bet on someone is a huge conflict of interest. No one waits 26 rounds to throw a fight no matter what there excuse is. Johnson merely under-estimated the big, lanky giants ability to absorb punishment and miscalculated the effects that age, inactivity, and fast living had taken upon him.

To this day Johnson’s claim of throwing the fight, though completely untrue, has caused many followers of the sport to disregard Jess Willard’s victory over the great Johnson, and to downplay the big mans ability. Willard was not a greatly skilled fighter but his stamina, toughness, and power should not be under-appreciated in a long fight.

The other myth about this fight was the temperature. We are talking Cuba in early April. No way it was 100 degrees as some have written or claimed

Was Willard Johnson's toughest title opponents? I say yes, followed by the fast boxing O'Brien, and the bigger Jim Battling Johnson. Johnson is 0-1-2 in these fights by the way.

 

How do you know Johnson's best rounds are missing? That would take some viewing. Johnson was in the lead until round 15, then Willard took over. That's how I see it. I also think the show footage is pretty close.

Also, no fighter fights a longer fight at a quicker pace. If this was 25 rounds, I think Willard gets busy much earlier, and still wins via KO.

Willard wasn't a spring chicken either for this fight. Johnson hired Sam McVey to get into better shape. Though he was 37, Johnson was also a good older fighter, mostly because of his style and opponents selected did not damage him much.

 

Stop with the garbage! Why don't you simply acknowledge that Johnson lied about the fix. Adam, and Klompton will disagree with you on this point. Perhaps a news paper can help you...read it.

[url]http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A04E1DA1E39E13ABC4C52DFB5668382609EDE[/url]

JOHNSON SAYS HE QUIT TO WILLARD; Declares Fight at Havana Was Fixed by Agreement--Demands Return Bout.
PERMISSIONS
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]

HAVANA, March 13.--Jack Johnson, former heavyweight champion, in a signed statement given to The Associated Press today declared that his fight with Jess Willard in this city four years ago was a prearranged affair and that he allowed Willard to win.

 

Style wise O'Brien was harder for Johnson. Ketchel at least in his two films fights is very crude, and even worse on defense than Willard. He did mark up Johnson and floored him despite being badly outclassed.

However, O'Brien according to some primary sources out boxed Johnson who was in his prime in 1909.

 

Yes, the shown footage on this link is close. That is my point. Have you ever read a fight report where the film tells a different tale?

You don't like when people put words in your mouth. Neither do I. I think you miss quoted me here. I said the first ten rounds of Jeffries vs. Johnson were close, and had it been ten round match, a draw would not be out of the question when you consider the rules and climate of the times. Jeffries was slightly the better in rounds 1-4, drew first blood, and won round 9. Sounds pretty close to me.

As for Moran vs. Johnson your ascertained that Moran did not win a round can quickly be dismissed by the surviving footage.

But those two points belong in a different thread.

I agree Johnson was older and past his best. But Willard was 33, and only been fighting for 4 years when he got his shot. There are two sides of the coin to examine.

 

Yes, O'Brien ran like a chicken vs Burns. I have that fight on film. It runs a little fast and his hard to watch. In my opinion O'brien's resume of wins is better than Ketchel's.

O'Brien beat Hart ( who beat Johnson ) Choysnki ( Who beat Johnson ), Burns, Kaufman via KO ( Johnson took him the distance ), Schreck, and Blackburn, and Maher to name a few.