guilalah
06-09-2009, 11:51 AM
A while back I browsed a translation of a French Serial ring biography ('My Life & Battles') that Johnson made in 1914. Here are some notes I mailed to Bob Bearden, who runs a Marciano web-site.
Here's some of what I'm reading in 'My Life and Battles' (Johnson's French serial article, trans. Christopher Rivers): Johnson plays up his lack of instruction in his earlier years, and even in the first few post-Choynski years, and says that observing his opponents was his way of learning and that, consequently, he was not eager to try for early stoppages. He opines that he was a bumbler when he met Choynski, and that he learned more in prison with Choynski that he had in all his previous ring experiences.
Of Klondike, Johnson admitted that, in their first fight, Klondike had had the better of the last five rounds; he said Klondike complimented him on his progress after their second set to; the third time, he KO'd Klondike in 13.
Johnson complimented Jack Jeffries, Jim's brother, saying that he was a good boxer. Of his various 1902 fights that went the distance, Johnson said he wasn't trying for stoppage, and felt he won most of them. However, he did admit that Hank Griffin was truly a hard man to beat at that time, and that the draw decision was an accurate reflection of the fight.
Johnson thought Ed Martin a fine fighter. In their first fight, Martin broke a metacarpral in the second round. This fight was cautious until Johnson had a big twelfth round. Johnson said that Martin landed no punches from rounds 13 to 20 (the final).
Johnson said McVey knew more boxing than anyone he'd fought to that point, Choyinski excepted -- a suprising comment, considering McVey's youth. Johnson said that, in their first two (20 round) fights, Johnson went easy in the second half, feeling he'd done enough in the first halves to show his superiority. He said that, because of this, many people misjudged McVey's chances. The third time they fought Johnson won KO20.
Johnson said that Sandy Ferguson was a powerful man, but his talent would have been better suited for wrestling. He said there was personal animosity between them and that, in their 20 round third fight (of four), Ferguson took the most punishment of any opponent Johnson had fought to the time of the article.
Johnson titles one chapter 'Two Formidable Opponents: Marvin Hart and Sam Langford'. Although Johnson felt he clearly deserved the decision over Hart, he does compliment Hart "the man in no way disappointed me ... his performance never failed for a moment to be of interest to all concerned".
Johnson speaks highly of Jeanette. He said that some of their matches were game-like; but that the fight Johnson lost on foul was very serious and full of skill, and that Jeanette had given a 'terrific fight' in a later 15 rounder in Baltimore which Johnson won.
Of the 15 rounder in Chelsea against Langford, Johnson (later in the article) admits misjudging him. Johnson put their weights as 190 to 138 -- quite interesting, as this is a much larger disparity than is commonly reported. Since this doesn't exactly flatter Johnson, it might well be that the publicly announced weights were tweeked a bit to diminish the difference.
Johnson confirms that, at one point, Langford did indeed drop him (and hard). "In the second round, the little ****** (nègre) landed a terrific right hand on my jaw and I went down like I'd been hit by a cannonball. Never in my entire pugilistic career, before nor since, have I taken a punch that landed with that much force. It was all I could do to get back on my feet by the time the referee was about to count "Ten!." I managed to do that but I assure you that I felt the effects of that punch for the rest of the fight. I realized at that moment that against a man like Langford, you can never let your guard down and that I needed to use all the skill that I had."
Johnson said that Bill Lang, at the time he met him, was a very good second-rate fighter, and that he made a good fight, though KO'd in the ninth. He said that Lang has since made a good record, that he's skilled and an 'upstanding guy', and that his friends wanted him to get another match against Johnson.
Johnson said Fitzsimmons made a diligent effort to get in shape, but that he was a 'shadow of his former self.' However, by stopping Fitz in 2, Johnson gained more praise than he had for defeating much more difficult opponents.
Johnson said JL Sullivan had been denigrating him, so he made a point of stopping Kid Cutler, a sparring partner Sully claimed was better than Johnson, in one.
Sailor Burke survived a six rounder by continually going to the canvas.
Johnson gave Jim Flynn a mixed review (this was their first fight, not the 1912 title defense). Johnson called it one of his easiest fights; but he also said Flynn was an excellent fighter, but too small. Johnson said he closed Flynn's eye right at the start. He said Flynn made racial remarks in the eleventh, at which point Johnson KO'd Flynn who, on reviving (after about 4 min) made a speech to those in attendance lauding Johnson.
Johnson said the referee asked Tommy Burns if he'd concede, the round before the KO, but Tommy denied he was in distress.
Johnson saw Tony Ross and Al Kaufmann fight, prior to defending against Ross. He said Ross was tough and possessed a good punch, and only poor stamina prevented him from stopping Kaufmann. Johnson said Ross was better conditioned when he challenged Johnson. Johnson said Kaufmann was far too undeveloped as a boxer to have justified the interest placed in his challenge of Johnson. Kaufmann was a sparring partner for Johnson at Reno, and Johnson then assessed him more generously, saying that Kaufmann had the makings of a good fighter, but needed honing.
Johnson spoke well of O'Brien's courage and skill, and said that he quickly decided that six rounds would not be sufficient to stop O'Brien.
One chapter is titled 'Ketchel's Terrific Right'; however Johnson says very little about Ketchel.
Johnson recalls stopping Ketchel with a flurry, and that one glove tore as a result, which Johnson inspected as he stood over Ketchel. Looking at the KO, Johnson hits Ketchel with a right-left-right in quick succession, then missed a right as he jumps over the dropping Ketchel.
[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (3:25-3:30 shows the slo-mo). That might be called a flurry, as the punches came so quickly together. As to the left glove tearing, it's possible, whether it happened then or earlier. I can't say sure that Johnson is correct; it's certainly more probable sounding than the 'Ketchel's embedded teeth' story. All we can say for certain is that, for some reason, Johnson is puttering with the striking surface of his left glove.
Johnson said he knew Jeffries would not be able to regain his old form -- and so it was.
Here's some of what I'm reading in 'My Life and Battles' (Johnson's French serial article, trans. Christopher Rivers): Johnson plays up his lack of instruction in his earlier years, and even in the first few post-Choynski years, and says that observing his opponents was his way of learning and that, consequently, he was not eager to try for early stoppages. He opines that he was a bumbler when he met Choynski, and that he learned more in prison with Choynski that he had in all his previous ring experiences.
Of Klondike, Johnson admitted that, in their first fight, Klondike had had the better of the last five rounds; he said Klondike complimented him on his progress after their second set to; the third time, he KO'd Klondike in 13.
Johnson complimented Jack Jeffries, Jim's brother, saying that he was a good boxer. Of his various 1902 fights that went the distance, Johnson said he wasn't trying for stoppage, and felt he won most of them. However, he did admit that Hank Griffin was truly a hard man to beat at that time, and that the draw decision was an accurate reflection of the fight.
Johnson thought Ed Martin a fine fighter. In their first fight, Martin broke a metacarpral in the second round. This fight was cautious until Johnson had a big twelfth round. Johnson said that Martin landed no punches from rounds 13 to 20 (the final).
Johnson said McVey knew more boxing than anyone he'd fought to that point, Choyinski excepted -- a suprising comment, considering McVey's youth. Johnson said that, in their first two (20 round) fights, Johnson went easy in the second half, feeling he'd done enough in the first halves to show his superiority. He said that, because of this, many people misjudged McVey's chances. The third time they fought Johnson won KO20.
Johnson said that Sandy Ferguson was a powerful man, but his talent would have been better suited for wrestling. He said there was personal animosity between them and that, in their 20 round third fight (of four), Ferguson took the most punishment of any opponent Johnson had fought to the time of the article.
Johnson titles one chapter 'Two Formidable Opponents: Marvin Hart and Sam Langford'. Although Johnson felt he clearly deserved the decision over Hart, he does compliment Hart "the man in no way disappointed me ... his performance never failed for a moment to be of interest to all concerned".
Johnson speaks highly of Jeanette. He said that some of their matches were game-like; but that the fight Johnson lost on foul was very serious and full of skill, and that Jeanette had given a 'terrific fight' in a later 15 rounder in Baltimore which Johnson won.
Of the 15 rounder in Chelsea against Langford, Johnson (later in the article) admits misjudging him. Johnson put their weights as 190 to 138 -- quite interesting, as this is a much larger disparity than is commonly reported. Since this doesn't exactly flatter Johnson, it might well be that the publicly announced weights were tweeked a bit to diminish the difference.
Johnson confirms that, at one point, Langford did indeed drop him (and hard). "In the second round, the little ****** (nègre) landed a terrific right hand on my jaw and I went down like I'd been hit by a cannonball. Never in my entire pugilistic career, before nor since, have I taken a punch that landed with that much force. It was all I could do to get back on my feet by the time the referee was about to count "Ten!." I managed to do that but I assure you that I felt the effects of that punch for the rest of the fight. I realized at that moment that against a man like Langford, you can never let your guard down and that I needed to use all the skill that I had."
Johnson said that Bill Lang, at the time he met him, was a very good second-rate fighter, and that he made a good fight, though KO'd in the ninth. He said that Lang has since made a good record, that he's skilled and an 'upstanding guy', and that his friends wanted him to get another match against Johnson.
Johnson said Fitzsimmons made a diligent effort to get in shape, but that he was a 'shadow of his former self.' However, by stopping Fitz in 2, Johnson gained more praise than he had for defeating much more difficult opponents.
Johnson said JL Sullivan had been denigrating him, so he made a point of stopping Kid Cutler, a sparring partner Sully claimed was better than Johnson, in one.
Sailor Burke survived a six rounder by continually going to the canvas.
Johnson gave Jim Flynn a mixed review (this was their first fight, not the 1912 title defense). Johnson called it one of his easiest fights; but he also said Flynn was an excellent fighter, but too small. Johnson said he closed Flynn's eye right at the start. He said Flynn made racial remarks in the eleventh, at which point Johnson KO'd Flynn who, on reviving (after about 4 min) made a speech to those in attendance lauding Johnson.
Johnson said the referee asked Tommy Burns if he'd concede, the round before the KO, but Tommy denied he was in distress.
Johnson saw Tony Ross and Al Kaufmann fight, prior to defending against Ross. He said Ross was tough and possessed a good punch, and only poor stamina prevented him from stopping Kaufmann. Johnson said Ross was better conditioned when he challenged Johnson. Johnson said Kaufmann was far too undeveloped as a boxer to have justified the interest placed in his challenge of Johnson. Kaufmann was a sparring partner for Johnson at Reno, and Johnson then assessed him more generously, saying that Kaufmann had the makings of a good fighter, but needed honing.
Johnson spoke well of O'Brien's courage and skill, and said that he quickly decided that six rounds would not be sufficient to stop O'Brien.
One chapter is titled 'Ketchel's Terrific Right'; however Johnson says very little about Ketchel.
Johnson recalls stopping Ketchel with a flurry, and that one glove tore as a result, which Johnson inspected as he stood over Ketchel. Looking at the KO, Johnson hits Ketchel with a right-left-right in quick succession, then missed a right as he jumps over the dropping Ketchel.
[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (3:25-3:30 shows the slo-mo). That might be called a flurry, as the punches came so quickly together. As to the left glove tearing, it's possible, whether it happened then or earlier. I can't say sure that Johnson is correct; it's certainly more probable sounding than the 'Ketchel's embedded teeth' story. All we can say for certain is that, for some reason, Johnson is puttering with the striking surface of his left glove.
Johnson said he knew Jeffries would not be able to regain his old form -- and so it was.