Your Thoughts On Jess Willard Ko Jack Johnson?

Totally agree. Though Johnson was ripe for it by round 26 it was still a great straight right hand by Willard with plenty of power. For his own age (33/34?) Jess was in superb condition.

 

Excellent info.

Btw, totally agree that it maybe one of Johnson’s best displays we have on film.

Due to his age, lack of condition, the heat and the immovable object that was Willard, we saw Johnson fight for all he was worth - at least as at that point in his career.

That Jack (that exact version) could’ve won if it was a 20 - 25 rd’r and that he managed to hang until round 26 was phenomenal.

Aside from the Willard fight, the other films we have see Johnson in such control as to only have evidence of him fighting at about 1/2 throttle.

I love seeing 37 yo Johnson’s speed, punch variety in combination and power on full display in Havana - gives you a good idea what the prime version was capable of if sufficiently pressed.

In one round, Johnson literally punched Big Jess from one side of the ring to the other, sort of akin to Usyk battering Fury in round 9 of their fight but Jess not as hurt - and Willard was absolutely helpless in trying to prevent it.

It’s understandable that the aged Johnson’s strength was somewhat neutralised by the enormous 6’6 1/4” cowboy - but, at the same time, Jess himself wasn’t shifting Johnson anywhere.

I piece meal together all the attributes we can see of Johnson displayed on film in different fights to appreciate that, in his prime, he was capable of doing all that in any one fight if necessary.

Helluva fighter in my book.

 

Total fake job. The patriarchy at work in league with white supremacy. Johnson was carrying Willard and realized he could no longer do so and took a sloppy dive. He was seen playing pinochle 45 seconds later at a bar in downtown Havana.

 

This is a bit of a devils advocate situation that I don’t entertain logically, Are humans usually?…. but if I was Johnson and I was late into a rough extremely long fight with someone who just didn’t tire under the Cuban sun and hypothetically I had offers for a dive… I might just mentally say “**** it, Take the stupid belt Jess” lol chalk up my performance to the gamblers as a good acting job.

 

Totally legit, and the older, scrambling for money Johnson was often quite full of B.S. with his comments.

 

I like reading the stories of senior citizen Johnson (who I sort of see as the last classical champio) haunting random gyms, passing on knowledge, sharing stories of his career if they true or not it would’ve been like encountering a folk hero if you were a young boxer, imagine sighting a storied champion daring people to try and punch him or just quietly roaming the floor giving pointers, that’s the fate of a lot of guys especially from the old guard.

 

From the film I have seen, I see no evidence of a dive in there. Jack Johnson sold his dive "confession" to Nat Fleischer years later. Mr. Fleischer wrote (in an old Ring Magazine my Grandfather had) that he did not believe it at the time and never believed it years later, and, until his death, he ranked Jack Johnson as the #1 Heavyweight of all time. I do not agree with Mr. Fleischer, on that ranking of Mr. Johnson, but I do not take his opinions lightly either. Jack Johnson did raise his thigh and shield his eyes, however briefly, as the referee's count progressed, but, as we all know, a boxer can be legitimately knocked out (and unable to rise) without totally losing consciousness. Jess Willard, the constant hounding of the legal system, and the heat, wore jack Johnson down that day. And he lost that fight on the straight, in my view.

 

Jack Johnson was drinking heavily during this period and eventually was out lasted by Jess Willard and Johnson later admitted it was a genuine KO and Willard deserved the win.

Jess Willard claims that Jack Dempsey loaded his gloves which was the reason he got Knocked Out.

 

I agree it would have been fascinating. Again, the operative issue would be separating the BS from the wisdom.

 

Two legit, magnificent performances. An overweight, fairly inactive , 37 year old Johnson goes over twenty five M of Q rounds in some form of tropical heat and puts on not only the best offensive display we have of him on film against a younger, supremely conditioned giant with terrific stamina and a terrific chin. The fact that Johnson without question would have won a twenty round decision going away is amazing ... Willard got in the best shape of his career, the best training and game the best performance of his career ... patient, poised, paced, he showed a terrific jab and straight hand to the head and the body , a great chin and stamina ... the fight and the result were real.

 

Yeah Johnson would have won under any established title distance other then 45 or KO to win. That fight probably does more for his resume then most of his later title wins cause he outpointed a superheavyweight when a bit past it. Willard was like the 4th or 5th best one and was only a few years younger but still.

From the refs statements you can infer Johnson was up either 17-8 or 16-9 after 25.

A fight being scheduled for over 25 rounds usually didn't matter it was a phantom distance meant to minimize the chances of a decision. Neither Johnson or Willard had ever fought longer than 20 rounds. But this time it did matter.