Harold Johnson Versus

ThatOne
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Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

Gene Tunney
Bob Foster
Michael Spinks
Roy Jones, Jr.
Harry Greb
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Bob Fitzsimmons
'Frilla
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by 'Frilla »

vs Tunney very interesting, i think Johnson beats Tunney though imo
super middle or Lightheavy, Johnson wins
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

harshfriller wrote:vs Tunney very interesting, i think Johnson beats Tunney though imo
super middle or Lightheavy, Johnson wins

You must hold him in high regard.

I think Tunney is an ATG.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Robinson »

Gene Tunney
He just beats Gene in a very close run bout.
Hard to judge, but Johnson's left is more consistent
over the night.
Johnson MD

Bob Foster
Foster thumps home his hard power shots, but Johnson
survives them. Cleaner punches from Johnson see's him
scrape by with a narrow win.
Johnson SD

Michael Spinks
Herky movements and odd angles see's Spinks frustrate
Johnson, he is able to back away and frustrate Harold,
who is landing the cleaner shots, but with less frequency.
Spinks wins the decision, but loses the rematch.

Roy Jones, Jr.
RJJ is fast and explosive, he almost stuns Johnson, who is able
to stay tight and close, jabbing and grabbing. RJJ throws solid
combinations, but Johnson is able for the most part cover up.
Jones Jr wins the decision.

Harry Greb I have never seen Greb in action, nor has anyone
else here no doubt. But I shall not envision this one.

Matthew Saad Muhammad
Johnson works nice behind his jab, and opens up with his combinations.
Saad counters nice, but is always a little bit behind Johnson in this
outing.
Johnson UD

Bob Fitzsimmons
Johnson out boxes and avoids the power shooter Fitzsimmons. Johnson
gets the stoppage win after 8 rounds.

I like Johnson :)
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Robinson »

ThatOne wrote:
harshfriller wrote:vs Tunney very interesting, i think Johnson beats Tunney though imo
super middle or Lightheavy, Johnson wins

You must hold him in high regard.

I think Tunney is an ATG.
I think any one who has watched a good amount of film of Johnson holds
him in high regard.

And those at the time, while he was in action did also.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Goodnight, Irene »

As far as I'm concerned, no 175lber in history walks into the ring against Gene Tunney as a starting favourite.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

Goodnight, Irene wrote:As far as I'm concerned, no 175lber in history walks into the ring against Gene Tunney as a starting favourite.


.



P.S. Especially one who struggled against Willie Pastrano, a poor man's Gene Tunney.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Goodnight, Irene »

People are too comfortable in their automated, unthinking placement of Ezzard Charles as the overwhelming consensus #1 Light-Heavy of all-time.

People should take a closer look at The Fighting Marine.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

Goodnight, Irene wrote:People are too comfortable in their automated, unthinking placement of Ezzard Charles as the overwhelming consensus #1 Light-Heavy of all-time.

People should take a closer look at The Fighting Marine.
Maybe if Tunney wasn't such a straight arrow he would get some respect. His son became a United State senator. He kind of looked like his old man.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Grimm »

Gene Tunney While I rank Tunney Higher than Johnson I believe Johnson would outbox him I think times just changed and boxing got better. Johnson UD

Bob Foster Johnson outboxes Foster and finishes him off late. Johnson TKO 11

Michael Spinks While Johnson's jab troubles Spinks throughout the early part of the fight I could see Spinks adjusting and taking over late. Spinks SD

Roy Jones, Jr. Jones can trouble anyone with his speed and power but I think Johnson would keep his composure use his jab and win this one. Johnson close UD

Harry Greb Don't do hearsay predictions and that is the only type you can do with Greb because there is no footage of him.

Matthew Saad Muhammad Saad Muhammad would be simply outboxed here. Johnson UD

Bob Fitzsimmons Again I just think boxing evolved since this time. Johnson UD



Glad to see a thread on Johnson I rate him pretty high. To me he fought like Joe Louis without the crippling power. It could be do to him being a sparring partner of Louis' for so long.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by dempseyfire »

I like Johnson here over all of them except Tunney and Greb. If he's fighting Fitz it all depends on if he's fighting in 1895 or 1955.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Robinson »

ThatOne wrote:
Goodnight, Irene wrote:As far as I'm concerned, no 175lber in history walks into the ring against Gene Tunney as a starting favourite.


.



P.S. Especially one who struggled against Willie Pastrano, a poor man's Gene Tunney.
How is Pastrano a poor man's Tunney ?
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by TheGreatA »

Pastrano was no Tunney and Johnson was a bit old/lost in controversial fashion.

Tunney only went on the bicycle against Dempsey because he had to, other than that he was more like Harold Johnson in his approach. It would be a great technical match-up. As far as I'm concerned, both were about equal skill-wise but I'd actually give the toughness/stamina edge to Tunney. I don't see him truly being the superior of Johnson in a boxing match but in the late rounds Tunney's durability might be the difference.

Tunney could appear a bit stiff/awkward compared to Harold Johnson but he got the job done regardless. Keep in mind that this is only when compared to Johnson who may have been the most textbook boxer of all time. He did everything tidy but it didn't always win him the fight. Not a huge puncher, tendency to get caught and lose his head, I'd say those were his big weaknesses.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Robinson »

I just do not see much comparison between Pastrano and
Tunney. That was the root of my question.

I do think that Tunney is the better performer and fighter,
but while they are both 'boxers' I do not see them being
that similar.

GreatA,
You are right mate, I do find that in his LHW bouts that Tunney
is a counter type, though aggressive boxer, much like Johnson.

I think it would be a good match up between both men, but
I do feel that Harold wins. BUT.. who knows.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by TheGreatA »

Robinson wrote:I just do not see much comparison between Pastrano and
Tunney. That was the root of my question.

I do think that Tunney is the better performer and fighter,
but while they are both 'boxers' I do not see them being
that similar.

GreatA,
You are right mate, I do find that in his LHW bouts that Tunney
is a counter type, though aggressive boxer, much like Johnson.

I think it would be a good match up between both men, but
I do feel that Harold wins. BUT.. who knows.
I agree with it. Pastrano was a good boxer but with no dedication. Stylistically he doesn't resemble Tunney much. More like a LHW Willie Pep if anything.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Robinson »

From what I have seen of Pastrano, the term 'fancy dan' or 'cutesy'
certainly seems to describe him.

You can see in some ways that Ali borrowed from his style, however.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Brutu »

Harold Johnson was scheduled to fight Sonny Liston March.6.1956 in Pittsburgh Pa,but Johnson injured his shoulder six days before the fight
and the bout was called off.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

They say Ali borrowed from the following:

Tunney
Pastrano
Walcott
Ray Robinson
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by granberry »

Brutu wrote:Harold Johnson was scheduled to fight Sonny Liston March.6.1956 in Pittsburgh Pa,but Johnson injured his shoulder six days before the fight
and the bout was called off.
Where did you get that from?

Johnson told me Liston wouldn't even spar in the gym with him.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by TheGreatA »

granberry wrote:
Brutu wrote:Harold Johnson was scheduled to fight Sonny Liston March.6.1956 in Pittsburgh Pa,but Johnson injured his shoulder six days before the fight
and the bout was called off.
Where did you get that from?

Johnson told me Liston wouldn't even spar in the gym with him.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bj ... ston&hl=en

Liston ended up fighting Marty Marshall for a third time and while winning decisively didn't look all that great in it. Harold Johnson on the other hand took Marshall to school.

Could Harold Johnson given a boxing lesson to a young Sonny Liston? Or would a raw but hard-punching Liston have caught Harold? Always been one of the more interesting what-ifs for me.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Collins2000 »

Great read. Thanks.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

I'm confused.

Was Harold Johnson scheduled to box Sonny Liston or was he not?

We have conflicting accounts.

Or is it falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus.
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Collins2000 »

ThatOne wrote:I'm confused.

Was Harold Johnson scheduled to box Sonny Liston or was he not?

We have conflicting accounts.

Or is it falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus.
I know which version I believe.

:D
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by ThatOne »

Collins2000 wrote:
ThatOne wrote:I'm confused.

Was Harold Johnson scheduled to box Sonny Liston or was he not?

We have conflicting accounts.

Or is it falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus.
I know which version I believe.

:D

Are you going to accept a newspaper account over a personal observation?
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Re: Harold Johnson Versus

Post by Grimm »

granberry wrote:
Brutu wrote:Harold Johnson was scheduled to fight Sonny Liston March.6.1956 in Pittsburgh Pa,but Johnson injured his shoulder six days before the fight
and the bout was called off.
Where did you get that from?

Johnson told me Liston wouldn't even spar in the gym with him.
Yeah? Moses told me he didn't know anything about the ten commandments.
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