BoxRec

Michael Spinks

Roy Jones Jr.

Saad Muhammad

Billy Conn

Gene Tunney

These are all close fights with the exception of saad. Johnson would box circles around Matt.

I'd take Tunney & Conn by close dec. Spinks by clearer dec and possible Ko.

Johnson edges Jones.

Michael Spinks Spinks KO 8

Roy Jones Jr. Johnson UD

Saad Muhammad Johnson UD

Billy Conn Johnson UD

Gene Tunney I'm 50/50 on this one DRAW

L KO by 14 to Michael Spinks

W KO 10 over Roy Jones Jr.

W Dec. 15 over Matthew (Franklin) Saad Muhammad

L Dec. 15 to Billy Conn

L KO by 11 to Gene Tunney

Harold Johnson -- highly skilled, quick as a wink, strong, power in both hands... but didn't take a great shot.

I hope, Mr. E, you don't think I'm calling you out today, and I assure you its just coincidential that I have taken exception to two of your posts. (I appreciate your contributions to the board!)

I question your judgment that Johnson didn't take a great shot. Johnson lost five fights in his career by stoppage, but only two were stoppages that would put his chin in doubt. In his last fight, he lost on a cut eye. Against Medrano, he was drugged (as determined by a post-bout urine test), against Walcott, he suffered a back injury. He was legitmately (and famously) stopped by Archie Moore in their 1954 title fight. And in his next fight, he was the victim of a one-punch kayo by Oakland Billy Smith. Getting TKOed by Archie Moore is no disgrace (he went the distance with Moore three other times - once picking up the decision), and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that loss to Smith - anybody can get tagged. Two legitimate stoppage losses in nearly 100 fights - with one coming at the hands of Archie Moore - does not translate as not being able to take a great shot, IMO.

Who did Spinks beat who was ever near the level of a prime Johnson? Rewatching Spinks-Qawi the other night I don't think Michael had the stamina nor the subtle skils to beat the likes of Moore or Johnson.

Johnson UD Spinks

Johnson KO8 Jones Jr

Johnson UD MSM

Johnson D Conn (tough, even matchup here)

Tunney KO12 Johnson

Beats Saad Muhammad, Jones and Conn.

Loses to Spinks and Tunney.

I have him beating Saad and Jones.

Conn is 50-50 for me.

Spinks is a slight favourite but 55-45, no more.

Tunney I’d expect to win.

Ezzard wrote:I have him beating Saad and Jones.

Conn is 50-50 for me.

Spinks is a slight favourite but 55-45, no more.

Tunney I’d expect to win.

I think I'd expect Tunney to win against any 175lber. Even Charles, thinking about it.

I've been giving Tunney some thought over the last few months. I've come to take him as the best Light-Heavy there ever was.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:

Ezzard wrote:I have him beating Saad and Jones.

Conn is 50-50 for me.

Spinks is a slight favourite but 55-45, no more.

Tunney I’d expect to win.

I think I'd expect Tunney to win against any 175lber. Even Charles, thinking about it.

I've been giving Tunney some thought over the last few months. I've come to take him as the best Light-Heavy there ever was.

I think the lack of black opponents hurts his standing with today's fans. A win over Norfolk would have made a big difference.

Ezzard wrote:

Goodnight, Irene wrote:

Ezzard wrote:I have him beating Saad and Jones.

Conn is 50-50 for me.

Spinks is a slight favourite but 55-45, no more.

Tunney I’d expect to win.

I think I'd expect Tunney to win against any 175lber. Even Charles, thinking about it.

I've been giving Tunney some thought over the last few months. I've come to take him as the best Light-Heavy there ever was.

I think the lack of black opponents hurts his standing with today's fans. A win over Norfolk would have made a big difference.

Was Tunney a racist?

By which definition of the word? The definition in his time, or ours?

Goodnight, Irene wrote:By which definition of the word? The definition in his time, or ours?

Did he dislike people of color?

I think I read something similar years ago but im unsure .

raylawpc wrote:I hope, Mr. E, you don't think I'm calling you out today, and I assure you its just coincidential that I have taken exception to two of your posts. (I appreciate your contributions to the board!)

I question your judgment that Johnson didn't take a great shot. Johnson lost five fights in his career by stoppage, but only two were stoppages that would put his chin in doubt. In his last fight, he lost on a cut eye. Against Medrano, he was drugged (as determined by a post-bout urine test), against Walcott, he suffered a back injury. He was legitmately (and famously) stopped by Archie Moore in their 1954 title fight. And in his next fight, he was the victim of a one-punch kayo by Oakland Billy Smith. Getting TKOed by Archie Moore is no disgrace (he went the distance with Moore three other times - once picking up the decision), and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that loss to Smith - anybody can get tagged. Two legitimate stoppage losses in nearly 100 fights - with one coming at the hands of Archie Moore - does not translate as not being able to take a great shot, IMO.

I just saw this. No offense taken, I assure you. I over-stated it earlier -- I don't think Johnson had a glass jaw or anything close to that. I just wouldn't say a granite jaw was one of his attributes.