BoxRec

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a349/ ... ntract.jpg

Aha! Brilliant! Thanks!

Anyways, that's Dempsey and Wills signing a contract to fight for the title with promoter Floyd Fitzsimmons (who promoted the Dempsey vs Miske bout) in the middle. Floyd gave Jack a $25,000 check for signing, which promptly bounced the next day.

Sho'nuff looks like dey is signing dat dere contact. So much fo dat cracka' Dempsey bein' scared o' us coloured folks.


Cap (I is sorta peach-colour, mysef.)

I think it should and to some extent it is held against Johnson that he didn't defend his title against Langford, McVey or Jeanette.

If he had defeated them he would probably be ranked a little higher by most people. It really would have been a great feat to have run the table by defeating all 3 of them. More people would think he was the best of all time, and he would probably be ranked #3 all time by most. (Most people would probably still rate Ali and Louis ahead of him).

Johnson would also be more respected and liked as a man if he would have defended his title against the top black fighters.

Would he have won against them? Probably, at least during the first 5 years of title reign. However, he was just a little off, all 3 were capable of beating him.

As other have mentioned, Johnson was hardly the first or last champion not have fought the best contenders. It should be held against all of those who weren't "fighting" champions.

The Great John L wrote:

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:that he didnt fight joe jeanette, sam mcvey, sam langford when they were more mature better fighters?

Good question BB. I would say that since Dempsey gets faulted for avoiding Wills, it seems fair to also fault Johnson for not fighting the guys who were probably the best challengers at the time.

I would agree with the Great John L. Johnson avoided the best contenders while he was champion.

pound per pound wrote:

The Great John L wrote:

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:that he didnt fight joe jeanette, sam mcvey, sam langford when they were more mature better fighters?

Good question BB. I would say that since Dempsey gets faulted for avoiding Wills, it seems fair to also fault Johnson for not fighting the guys who were probably the best challengers at the time.

I would agree with the Great John L. Johnson avoided the best contenders while he was champion.

well im just wondering for those that put jack johnson in the top 5, what is there case, considering johnson didnt defend his title against at least one of the 3 best challengers out there. johnson was able to defend his title against battling jim johnson who was black, how come johnson couldnt fight a better black man like langford or mcvey instead?

Simple. He didn't want to risk losing his title and becoming just another black prize fighter. His ego couldn't handle that. That's why he never fought a top white heavyweight until he was nearly broke and forced to box Frank Moran in Paris. Moran, an above-average slugger, was in awe of Jack and afraid to take chances.

Cap