Johnson Was Too Good For JefferiesMost experts and boxers had picked former heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries to defeat Johnson in the ring. John L. Sullivan, James J. Corbett, Robert Fitzsimmons, Tommy Burns, Abe Attell, Battling Nelson all picked Jeffries to win. Even black boxers like Sam Langford and Joe Jeanette picked the white man. Perhaps Jeanette, who had fought Johnson more than any other man spoke for them all when he said, “Why Jeffries can lose half of his strength, have his endurance cut in two, carry a ton of extra weight and still whip Johnson." But that was not the case, Jim Jeffries was too awkward and slow to break through Johnson's defense. Johnson was easily able to jolt Jeffries with hard, fast short left hand jabs. It was a no contest. Finally in the 15th round, Jeffries went down for the first time in his boxing career. After two more quick knockdowns, Jim Jeffries seconds threw in the sponge. Jim said after the fight I could never have whipped Jack Johnson even when I was at my best in my younger years. I couldn't have hit him in a thousand years. He's just too good. Jim Jeffries received $117,000 for the fight. Years later Jeffries said, "The comeback attempt was the biggest mistake of my life. The money wasn't worth it." Jack Johnson totally dominated the once unbeaten Jeffries and stopped him in the 15th round, a result, which induced riots, lynching's, beatings, and other white on black, and black on white violence. Jim Flynn, The Head Butting Challenger4th of July 1912 in Las Vegas, New Mexico Johnson defended his title against Jim Flynn. Boxing fans could see that Flynn was absolutely hopeless entity against the champion from round one. At long range Johnson's left jab prevented his opponent from landing any kind punches at all. At close range, the style of the challenger, made it easy for Johnson to hold his opponent while landing uppercuts to the body and head. Flynn's only effective punching was in the third round when he landed two right hooks to the jaw of Johnson. Jack Johnson had become careless, but only for short while. At the beginning of the sixth round the Jim Flynn tried to head butt Jack Johnson's chin. Referee Smith gave a warning to Flynn for illegitimate boxing numerous times, but Flynn continued trying to head butt Johnson. Films showed Flynn literally leaping into the air to head butt Johnson. As the fight progressed Flynn was taking a terrible beating and streams of blood flowed freely from his face. Finally the State Police Captain Fornoff entered the ring and stopped the fight in the 9th round due to the rough treatment and the persistent fouling of the challenger. When the referee then announced Johnson as the winner, a tremendous cheer came from the crowd.
Both Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard Studied Johnson's Techniques
It was the opinion of many at ringside that Jim Flynn was aiming for a disqualification. It is noted that shortly before the fight started, the official announcer Tommy Cannon of Oklahoma City went in the ring to announce to the public that several hundred ladies who have graced this occasion by their attendance and those ladies went to see J. Johnson. He requested that the spectators remember their presence when it came to shouting comments on the fight. In 1913 Johnson was convicted of a technical violation of the Mann Act. He fled the country to avoid a one year jail sentence. 28th of November 1913 in Paris: Johnson knockout Andre Spoul in 2nd round. 19th of December 1913 in Paris Johnson fought Jim Johnson, another black boxer from Galveston, Texas. That match ended in a ten round draw. It is of note that both Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard studied Johnson's boxing techniques insensibly before a fight. This suggest that Jack Johnson was the greatest fighter of all times. Jack Arthur Johnson, affectionately known as "Lil’ Arthur," became heavyweight champion of the world in 1908 destroying the coloured barrier by stopping Tommy Burns in 14 rounds to become the first black heavyweight boxing champion. Jack Johnson had a 10 year unbeaten streak during which time he defeated all of the top fighters of that period.
Jack Johnson Was The Master He fought the other highly avoided black fighters of his day, including the clever master strategist Joe Jeannette ten times, the hard punching Sam McVey three times, and gave the great Sam Langford a beating in their only meeting. In Jack Johnson's second bout with Sam McVey, billed as the "Coloured Heavyweight Championship." One reporter noted that McVey went through the most awful torment ever witnessed in a Los Angeles prize ring. In their third meeting it became very clear after the tenth round that Jack Johnson was the master. Sam Mcvey took blows after blows to the chin and Johnson kept sinking rights to the heart and left smashes to the stomach. McVey showed courage but, in the twentieth round Jack decided he had punished Sam McVey sufficiently and ended the contest with a right to the heart and a beautiful peach of a left hook to the jaw of Sam McVey to finish off the fight. Jack Johnson's career was legendary. In 47 years of fighting, he was only knocked out three times, but his life was troubled. There was a campaign of hatred and bigotry waged against him by whites who wished to regain the heavyweight title and who also resented his interracial relationships with women. |
