Jack Johnson will probably always be my all time favorite boxer, but I'm not so sure I should believe everything he said. For example he claimed in his autobiography that he singlehandedly fought off a 20 foot shark when he was 13 years old (yes in water). I have my doubts about that one...
What do you think? Was he telling the truth when he claimed he threw his fight with Willard because he thought that by doing so he could return to the US and not have to go to jail?
2006-09-07 04:13:20 · 6 answers · asked by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 in Sports ➔ Boxing
I believe he got whipped pretty badly by Jess who was somewhat underated as Johnson was out of shape. He would not had waited until the 26th round if he had thrown this fight. He was hit with some good shots and he was tiring badly. In his prime however he would not have lost to Jess. Jack had a bad habit of over glorifying himself and never giving the other guy any credit.
2006-09-07 09:02:54 · answer #1 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the great controversies in the history of boxing......one of those things we'll probably never really know. Johnson certainly had legal challenges under the Mann Act (due to his penchant for white women, which was frowned upon back in the day) but IMO its a convienent way to regain his legacy. I'm thinking he didn't, but wishes he did ; )
2006-09-07 19:15:23 · answer #2 · answered by da1prophet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He claims he threw the fight to avoid legal trouble he had with the government. He was facing charges on the Mann Act (See Wikipedia).
2006-09-07 15:26:09 · answer #3 · answered by smitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you don't wait 26 rounds to throw a fight. watch the footage. Willard put everything into that right hand and Willard was a big guy. jack went down and was too tired to get up. Willard won . even after he supposedly threw the fight he still spent a yr in jail when returning to u.s he shouldn't have had to go to jail and in my opinion its a damn shame what the govt did to him, but the reason he gave for throwing figh is therefore mute. Willard won
2014-05-12 11:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by nelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jack Johnson was the best there ever was!
2006-09-07 11:15:39 · answer #5 · answered by Husker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe he told the truth
2006-09-07 11:15:31 · answer #6 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋