Who would you say impacated boxing more Dempsey or Jack Johnson?

[Blue54]

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[QueensburyRules]

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- -The constipation thread can be found buried somewhere in the Lounge.

[Blue54]

- -The constipation thread can be found buried somewhere in the Lounge.

Lmao thanks for that.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Dempsey by leagues.


You can add Sullivan, Corbett, and Fitzsimmons to that.

And that's just the Heavyweights. It's a massive failing of almost every age to cast their perceptions upon the past.

[TonyGe]

Impact has to be Johnson. Opened up the Heavyweight title to everyone instead of just a portion of the population. Can't minimize something as important than that.

[DeeMoney]

Impact has to be Johnson. Opened up the Heavyweight title to everyone instead of just a portion of the population. Can't minimize something as important than that.

But did he?

This isnt meant to diminish Johnson's accomplishment of winning the title, and becoming the first Black Heavyweight champion of the world; but just because he was first doesnt mean he opened up doors for others. It would be more than two decades until another black fighter got a shot at the heavyweight crown. This isn't like Jackie Robinson, where other black ball players followed just a couple months behind.

I guess one could argue, that Johnson's refusal to kowtow to the white establishment had a negative impact in regards to other black fighters getting the opportunity to fight for the title. Though I doubt it had that much of an impact; and thats not to write that Johnson was wrong in how he behaved.

Johnson certainly was a pioneer, but if we are talking about impact in regards to what happened later in the sport, Johnson really didnt open up doors. I feel strongly that Louis, with society being different at the time, still gets his shot when he did.

[QueensburyRules]

Impact has to be Johnson. Opened up the Heavyweight title to everyone instead of just a portion of the population. Can't minimize something as important than that.

- -Tony, International reverbations as the 1st black heavy champ, but he sat on the title and never fought the top 5, 4 of which are HOFers with one of those Sam Langford always in any top 10 p4p discussion when not #1.

Yer history needs some tutoring.

[TonyGe]

- -Tony, International reverbations as the 1st black heavy champ, but he sat on the title and never fought the top 5, 4 of which are HOFers with one of those Sam Langford always in any top 10 p4p discussion when not #1.

Yer history needs some tutoring.

The money was in fighting white boxers. Ignoring threatening challengers in favor of ones that can bring in the money is not unusual in boxing. That had to be a part of his selection of opponents. There were race riots after he won the title. What would happen if he ignored the public pressure for him to fight a White guy so he could turn the title back to what they considered the rightful owners. I don't hold it against him.

[HOUDINI563]

The truth is he signed to fight Langford numerous times only to see the fight fall through. Once he signed right before his Mann act trial and once convicted he ran off to Europe. The promoter then canceled the bout.

Johnson was perfectly willing to fight anyone as long as his expected purse was met which was $30,000. Issue was that a bout with two black fighters would not draw flies. The paying audience wanted to see a white man beat Johnson.

[QueensburyRules]

The money was in fighting white boxers. Ignoring threatening challengers in favor of ones that can bring in the money is not unusual in boxing. That had to be a part of his selection of opponents. There were race riots after he won the title. What would happen if he ignored the public pressure for him to fight a White guy so he could turn the title back to what they considered the rightful owners. I don't hold it against him.

- -Sam Langford was making more $ as the more popular fighter of the people.

I get Ketchal and Philly Obrien, but not Kaufman and the like. Facts are he didn't really make much until Jeffries, at which point he seemed to retire until Willard in Cuba.

He lived in Paris where Sam and Joe Jeanette made major stopovers for big $