BoxRec

You know I have read dozens of books and seen numerous documenteries and TV specials about the'Gavelston Giant' over the past 40 years or so.
But I dont think I have ever read or heard anything about why he didnt have any hair on the top of his head.
I assumed(like many)it was because he was ahead of his time.
a' regular Mr.Cool or even a 'Mr. Super-Kool".
Like Yul Brynner or Kojak.
But lately I have been wondering if perhaps Jack Johnson may have actually had alapecia or some form of it.
In his later years he wore a red barrett,possibly to keep his head warm.
What do you all think?

Caractacus wrote:You know I have read dozens of books and seen numerous documenteries and TV specials about the'Gavelston Giant' over the past 40 years or so.
But I dont think I have ever read or heard anything about why he didnt have any hair on the top of his head.
I assumed(like many)it was because he was ahead of his time.
a' regular Mr.Cool or even a 'Mr. Super-Kool".
Like Yul Brynner or Kojak.
But lately I have been wondering if perhaps Jack Johnson may have actually had alapecia or some form of it.
In his later years he wore a red barrett,possibly to keep his head warm.
What do you all think?

You can see here quite clearly he had hair.. Interesting thread tho - Alopecia in early 20th Century Black Heavyweigts...could be a good book

another example....

Maybe it had something to do with hair-pulling...? Or his women just liked him that way. Sam Langford and Joe Jeannette both liked being short-haired or near bald too. Joe Gans. Joe Walcott. Must be a reason. No white baldies. Unless you include guys like Fitzsimmons who were losing their hair.

Holyfield lost his hair after bulking up from cruiser to heavy. Marciano was folically challenged too...

Razors did exist a hundred years ago.

Hope I haven't blown anyone's mind here.

It is a preference for men who do not want to spend time with such petty nonsense as a hairstyle.

There were quite a number of white bare-knuckle fighters who had shaved heads.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck1052 wrote:There were quite a number of white bare-knuckle fighters who had shaved heads.

- Chuck Johnston

James Figg had a pretty close cropped swede!

But that was so 18th century, man! White dudes in the Burns-Johnson era didn't really shave their heads. Oddly enough I recall an early photo of Tom Sharkey looking close cropped and there are a few of Jeffries as well. Just went out of fashion for some reason. Suspect an appeal to the ladies of the day had something to do with it. Women preferred "Pompadour Jim" to "Baldy Bob".

Cap wrote:But that was so 18th century, man! White dudes in the Burns-Johnson era didn't really shave their heads. Oddly enough I recall an early photo of Tom Sharkey looking close cropped and there are a few of Jeffries as well. Just went out of fashion for some reason. Suspect an appeal to the ladies of the day had something to do with it. Women preferred "Pompadour Jim" to "Baldy Bob".

lol

this guy went for the 'natural'

evrenb wrote:

Cap wrote:But that was so 18th century, man! White dudes in the Burns-Johnson era didn't really shave their heads. Oddly enough I recall an early photo of Tom Sharkey looking close cropped and there are a few of Jeffries as well. Just went out of fashion for some reason. Suspect an appeal to the ladies of the day had something to do with it. Women preferred "Pompadour Jim" to "Baldy Bob".

lol

this guy went for the 'natural'

Phil Spector's pre-trial "natural" was more hilarious. I think they were going for a insanity plea.

Lmao...that was the funniest thing ever! :-D

BoxBuzz wrote:It is a preference for men who do not want to spend time with such petty nonsense as a hairstyle.

evrenb wrote:

another example....

I am not a doctor,but to me that looks more like a darker shade of pigment on top of his head
either that or a shadow over the contours of his cranium in the photograph.

Well you got one thing right. You are not a Dr.

or Maybe Jack Johnson was an ancient Mongel"wanna-be"?

I do remember reading in a book thou,that back around 1940 a radio show was interviewing both wrestler Tor Johnson
and Jack Johnson on his radio show,The host asked both how they lost their hair.

"Too Many Headlocks" said Tor Johnson.

"Makin Babies" replied Jack Johnson

(Im still trying to figure whatever that one means myself).

Then maybe it's best you stay out of the baby makin' business.

Caractacus wrote:

evrenb wrote:

another example....

I am not a doctor,but to me that looks more like a darker shade of pigment on top of his head
either that or a shadow over the contours of his cranium in the photograph.

No thats hair

Interesting that his head became a little 'mishapen' in later life....tooooo much baby making !

Tell me he is not insane!!!!!!!!!!

Check out that photo of Jack Johnson in his later years and this recent clip of football great Jim Brown(b.1936)
looks like they may be from the same people from West Africa,maybe the Yorba people?


http://youtube.com/watch?v=g6ZyNwYykFc

Caractacus wrote:Check out that photo of Jack Johnson in his later years and this recent clip of football great Jim Brown(b.1936)
looks like they may be from the same people from West Africa,maybe the Yorba people?


http://youtube.com/watch?v=g6ZyNwYykFc

Other than being bald black dudes I don't see the similarities .

evrenb wrote:Holyfield lost his hair after bulking up from cruiser to heavy. Marciano was folically challenged too...

Marciano in this day and age would be shaved head and bearded,he'd be a real bad a$$ !

bump