iamasadlittleboy
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Posts: 4731
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| Posted: August 11 2008, 21:17 PM Post subject: Across the borders of racism |
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Opening:
This is the first and only boxer profile, where I really don't know where I'm to start, I have a book on Johnson at home, which I wish I'd read last year (the last 2 years in my life have been rather muddled). The book is called "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson" and is written by Geoffrey C. Ward, which I'd advise you do read, don't make the same mistake as me.
Why Am I telling you to read someone elses view on Jack, well, because I really couldn't begin to scratch the surface of this man's career, life and times in a few thousand words. Wards books about 700 pages, just to show you the detail he goes into, if I was to spend the time and effort he did I'd hope for a few grand, not a few penny's from here.
So who was Jack Johnson?
According to my ex girlfriend, he's a "really good singer", I wish I'd delivered a Johnson-esque hook for that (mainly because the "singer" irritates me, but also because he's not the REAL Jack Johnson as far as I'm concerned).
Jack Arthur Johnson was born in the late 1800's (March 31st 1878), but it's his later life that I'm more concerned about. He would become the Galveston Giant, a heavyweight boxing champion, and one of the most controversial figures in the history of the sport(and lets be fair, their has been plenty of them).
He would become a black man in a white mans world and upset both the whites and the blacks by crossing over the racial divide before it became acceptable (and well before it became to be seen as an embarassing feature of America), and before Rosa Parks "No I'm not", Johnson had made his stand.
Johnson parents, Henry and Tina had six children (with Jack being the second) and were both former slaves who took up blue collar jobs to bring up the kids, and teach Jack and his siblings how to read and write (this shouldn't be mis-interpretted as Jack being an especially smart man though).
The times
Remember were talking about the late 19th century when Johnson was born, this wasn't an America where democracy was practised as it is now and even more so John comes from Galveston. For those who don't know where that is, it's Texas, the deep south of America. Some may, others may not, know that Texas is notorious for racism.
Lets take this back about 15 years before Johnson was born around 1866, the American Civil war had just ended and the Confederate army had lost, this didn't mean they'd just lie down and die. In fact it was former confederate army members that started up the Ku Klux Klan, which of course was prevelant in the deep south. The Klan weren't done for before Johnson reached the top (which is a point I'll come back to later). The idea of a black person doing anything big or bettering that of a white man was ludicrous, and them white hooded idiots believed it.
Back to Boxing
I won't pretend to have done lots of research and spin the yarn that Johnson was great amateur, as I really have no idea. I'd now like to say "what I do now is that", but sadly I can't, it's believed that Johnson made his debut aged 15 against a man called John Lee. Though lets not pretend that records of fights 114 years ago were kept, especially between two black fighters each seemingly making their debut, but lets go with what boxrec have (as it's uaully accurate for records).
The first thing we know for definite about Johnsons early career is he took the Texas State Middleweight Title in November of 1897, which is basically the same as a british area title (For example midlands title).
The next step up that we know Johnson took was infact in a loss, what we know comes from a newpaper quote (Date of May 8 reported in the Chicago Tribune.):
"...Johnson knocked Haines down in Round one with an uppercut, and only the bell saved Klondyke...", the loss to John Klondike Haines came in late 1899.
Johnson was stopped in the 6th round (of a six rounder), in what was apparently his second loss (losing via points 4 years or so earlier), though details, as with most of Johnsons early fights, are sketchy.
The next few years are again sketchy with a hat trick of wins over Jim McCormick in 1900 all occuring inside 1 1/2 months being the stand out point before the rematches with Klondike. The first of these was fought to a 20 round draw in the summer of 1900, now 20 rounds might have you scratching your head, thinking thats not right so lets have a little history lesson.
Boxing by numbers-The rounds game
As most of us know, fights at the top level are 12 rounds in the modern age, of course those of us a little older than myself will remember 15 round wars during the 70's and 80's (some of the best fights in history are those that went the extra 3 such as the first Ali-Frazier fight). Of course after Ray Mancini's fateful clash with Duk Koo Kim in which Kim's injuries on national TV haunted the sport, the WBC decided to shorten fights to 12 rounds (a decision the other major body's followed), well for those that know there stuff, they'll also know there were points in history where the fight could literally go until one man or the other was unable to fight back (be it punched unconscious or passed out due to exhaustion). Well Johnson became a regular of the 15+ round fights as we'll find out later.
The start of the new wave
A second rematch with Klondike (Johnson was 0-1-1 against him) was arranged and this time the spoils went to the vastly improved Johnson, who was quickly going to have his life, and his career changed. I'm not sure on who the first white man to fight Johnson was (though I do know it was before Burns), but the first to have a massive effect on him was Joe Choynski, one of the great unheralded fighters of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Choynski was the son of a polish immigrant which may have been why, after giving Johnson a beating (3rnd KO) in 1901, Choynski took him under his wing and taught him how to fight properly.
Choynski was himself a tough difficult boxer, who, despite never fighting for a title himself did have a whose's who record from the era which included the fighters (1).
Despite having a tutor in Choynski, johnson went 0-1-2 in his next three with a loss and a draw with Hank Griffin before going on a 20 fight unbeaten streak. Although some of these wins were over the same opponent going 2-0-0-2 with Sandy Ferguson and 3-0 with Sam McVea. But during this streak he beat Jack Jeffries (brother of the famous world champion James J Jeffries) via a KO in 5.
The title of racism-The Colored world title
In 1902 Johnson fough Frank Childs who was the world 'colored' heavyweight champion, with blacks not being given a chance to fight for the proper title. (2) Johnson would defend this title until 1907 when he faced Peter Felix (in what would, from Boxrec appear to be the last defense of the title). During which he lost twice once to future world champion Marvin Hart (a mere 4 months after the Johnson-Hart fight Hart won the vacant title in a fight with Jack Root, then lost it 7 months later in his only defense against Tommy Burns).
His other loss was the third contest with Joe Jeannette (via DQ) with claims of no title changes with DQ's (3).
Johnson's opposition seemed to consist with rematch after remacth with Joe Jeanette (facing him 3 more times after the DQ loss) and Sandy Ferguson in there as well. But before getting all these rematches he fought a very recogniseable name in Sam Langford. Langford at the time was 35-5-10 when he had retired some 20 years later, he had ammassed a record of 202-47-45 with 130 KO wins. Johnson had perhaps been jealous of Langford (4), and the colored heavyweight title was on the line, some questions had to have been asked over the size advantage that Langford gave away. Sam weighed a mere 156 lb for he fight to Jackson's 185, of course if either fighter was fighting now this would basically be a (big) light middle weight v a (small) cruiserweight. Langford lasted to the end of a 15 round contest, losing on points after being dropped in the 6th.
Black V White
Just over a year after besting Langford (and going 5-0-2 in the meanwhile) Jackson got his hands on the great Bob Fitzsimmons. Fitsimmons had been the first 3 weight champion (winning world championships at Middleweight, Lightheavyweight and heavyweight), and was seen as one of the best ever.Despite having taken the whole of 1905 out of the ring many gave him chance at beating Johnson, Johnson showed them as being foolish with a 2nd round KO of Fitzsimmons subjecting him to his 7th loss.
Next up was Kid Cutler, a protege of John L. Sullivan, a great white champion, in Cutlers fourth fight (he was 1-1-0-1) Johnson KO'd him in one and ended his career. A fight with Sailor Burke was next 2 weeks later, which Johnson won via a points decision (in the news paper) then came a fight against Fireman Jim Flynn.
A year before the fight Flynn had fought the then champion Tommy Burns and burns had stopped him in the 15th round, Johnson beat Burns' time only taking 11 to get Flynn out of there. Later on in Flynn's life he became rather legendary for being the first (and only) man to stop Jack Dempsey, who would later go on to be an american hero and world champion.
A journey over to the UK followed with a fight against Ben Taylor, whish ended up giving Taylor his 9th loss.
World title-Champion of the world
Tommy Burns had beaten Marvin Hart in 1906 and had held onto the title until late 1908 when he met johnson. In the meantime he'd managed 11 (or 13) title defences (including 1 draw) before Jacksons promoters met the $30,000 bond that Burns had asked for for any title fight. In what would end up being a bizarre ending with the police breaking up the fight and the corner man for Johnson calling from under the ring for the police.
His first defence was against Philadelphia Jack O'Brien which ended in a draw, a wins over Tony Ross and Al Kaufman followed before he got a fight with someone many may recognise. Stanley Ketchel, who was the reigning middleweight champion stepped upped 2 weights (back then there was no super middleweight or cruiserweight) skipping light heavyweight to face Johnson.Johnson was over 2 stone heavier and managed to stop Stanley Ketchel in the 12th round giving Ketchel his second loss by stoppage (and 4th overall).
The fight of the Century-Johnson V Jeffries
With many American's still remembering James J Jeffries was unbeaten, and had vacated the title (the first man to do so) they had started to demand this white, american hero beat the black "fake champion" in Johnson. Jeffries had been out of the ring for almost 6 years (that was a 2nd round KO win over Jack Munroe), but after much public demand Jeffries came back to the ring out of retirement. He gave a good account of himself physically (reportedly losing over 100 pounds for the fight) but got his first (and only) loss, a 15th round KO where the fresher and less rusty Johnson evertually beat down on the former king.
4 fights (with 3 defences) in the following 4 and a 1/2 years leading upto his fight with Jess Willard probably weren't the best for Johnson. The whites hated him (even more so now he'd beaten there hero in James J Jeffries), the blacks hated him (mainly because he was doing what they weren't meant to, and because he'd made something of himself). And in the time had put on around 40 pounds since his fight with Langford and over 30 since the fight with Burns and over a stone since facing Jeffries less than 5 years earlier.
The Giants Collide-Normal service resumes
Jess Willard was the "Pottawatomie Giant" Johnson of course was the "Galveston Giant" and in 1915 the two met for the weordl heavyweight title. It was 9 1/2 years since Johnson had last lost and that was a DQ loss to Joe Jeanette. Willard however had lost 4 since 1911, including his debut (DQ loss to Louis Fink) and had loss just over a year prior to the meeting of the giants to Tom McMahon (a points decision).
Johnson was most certainly favourite going into the fight but after 26 rounds (of whats thought to have been scheduled for 45) Johnson was stopped for just the second time in his career, with Joe Choynski in 1901 being the only previous time.
The comeback-Spain, Mexico and J. Johnson V J. Johnson
Johnson spent the rest of the year out of the ring and came back 11 months after the loss, resurfacing in Spain against Frank Crozier winning a points decision in Madrid. His next 4 fights were all in Spain as he started an 11 year unbeaten streak. After the quad of victories in Spain he went to Mexico for the next 5 (winning all 5, with 4 KO's).
Returning to the US in late 1920 he fought two fights on the 25th Novemeber (nothing that unusual back in those days). The second of the fights was with Frank Owens, the first (more strangely) was against Topeka Jack Johnson. So effectively it was Jack Johsnon V Jack Johnson.
For the former world champion his choice of opponents from 1919-1921 consisted of 7 opponents making debuts, one with a record of 0-2-0 and only 1 fighter having had a double digit amount of fights (Tom Cowler-48-17-2).
Johnson then took the whole of 1922 out of the ring, and made a return almost 2 years after beating Joe Boykin, his return this time was in Cuba against Farmer Lodge. 4 fights spread over 3 years signalled the obvious downfall of Johnson's career. This was then made certain with 6 straight losses from may 1926-1931 (taking the whole of 1927 out, and didn't fight between May 1928 and March 1931). Losing to Brad Simmons in May of 1931 was avanaged about 6 weeks later before Johnson again took a year out.
He fought Dick Anderson in his final win in 1932 before taking almost 6 years out of the ring.
Of course one of the reasons for his abscence (late 1921-1922) was because he was arrested for "transporting women across state lines for immoral purposes" (The Mann act). The woman, the woman here was his wife.
In his final fight, a final, comeback against Walter Price in 1938 he was stopped in 1938 after this he was done with the ring.
Retiring with a record of 89-14-12 with 49 wins from KO. He boxed 1041 rounds and won almost 40% of his fights by way of KO.
Johnson died in 1946 after being involved in a car crash. 1 Year later Jackie Robinson was the first colorued player to play in the MLB (Major League Baseball), and of coruse, Joe Louis was dominating the heavyweight boxing ranks. Unlike Johnson, Louis' win over Schmelling garunteed him an imediate idol status, as opposed to an enemy of the public.
(1) Choynski fought:
James J Corbett-Future World Champion- The two fought 4 times, Corbett winning 3 and 1 being called a no contest/no decision. Choynski's debut was actually against Corbett.
Bob Fitzsimmons-Future World Champion, and the first man to ever take titles at 3 weights-They fought to a draw
Tom Sharkey-Future Title Contender- The two fought thrice, for 1 draw and 2 wins to Sharkey
James J Jeffries-Future World Champion- The 2 fought to a draw, apparently with Jeffries having and 50+ lbs advantage.
(2) In 1899 Frank Craig was allowed to fight Tommy Ryan for the World middleweight title, some 9 years before Johnson had his own chance.
(3) Oddly in 1985 Pedlar Palmer won the Batamweight world title against Billy Plimmer with a DQ.
(4) In 1904 Sam Langford had his own title fight at welterweight (147 lb's) against Joe Walcott, Walcott kept the title with a very debeatable draw. Where as Johnson still couldn't secure a title fight for the world title.
(5) Most regard his post 1928 fights as merely exhibitions, though for the purpose of this they have been taken as part of his record.
Summary: A legend of the ring
This was originally posted on Dooyoo.co.uk which is why the article seems to be aimed at the none boxing fan, and mentioned "a few pennys on here" |
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