Would Liston have intimidated Jack Johnson !?

Whilst not as well read on Johnson, as others on the forum, I’ve always had this impression of him as being genuinely ‘fearless’.
If so, being able to carry off an air of fearlessness carries with it it’s own kind of menace.

 

Has anyone here seen Unforgivable Blackness? I've got a copy and really want to give it a watch but it's a three hour plus commitment...

 

It`s worth it.

 

Is it as good as any book written about Johnson, or is there a definitive/better book out there? He's definitely a figure in boxing history I want to get a better handle on.

 

I read one book on Johnson and the documentary was much better.

 

Hmm, alright. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Great soundtrack from Wynton Marsalis if you're a Jazz fan, too.

 

Liston wasn't "afraid" of Clay but he was certainly rattled because he genuinely thought Clay was crazed. I believe it's true that Liston pulled a gun on Clay when Clay was going nuts in a casino. So.....I think Johnson could have rattled Liston just by making him angry. Johnson was a master at psychological warfare....he might have gotten under Liston's skin; it's not out of the question. But scared, like shaking in his boots scared...no.

 

Well said, and I tend to agree with what I've read on him.

 

I thought it was worth it!

 

It's very good.I would say the two volumes by Adam Pollack,the Rise & The Reign are the definitive books on him because they are so thoroughly researched from every aspect.

 

Are they among the best boxing books ever written, must reads, or more just solid books?

 

That's a hard question to answer,because it depends what you want from a biography. If you mean are they just a collection of facts without any personal or historical context,then no they aren't,and Pollack isn't afraid to offer his opinion after he had presented all the facts for you to peruse. If you want to get to grips with Johnson then they are the ones to go for imo ,same as his book on Jeffries.

 

Sounds good, thank you sir.

 

Intimidated no.
Beaten within a inch of his life yes.