The guardian., 1941-06-14
JACK JOHNSON

~ SUACOi Vi RlIS magazine, Nat
Fleischer.
JACK JOHNSON
We now come to probably the most
misunderstood boxer of all time, and
man who struggled upward through
all sorts of difficulties. Writes Nat
Fleischer:
Perhaps nowhere in the history of
modern boxing is there more notable
case than that of Jack Johnson, the
first of the colored race to win the
world heavyweight championship. He
had his ups and downs. He had his
struggles but always took the bitter
and the sweet in the same light. He
smiled on adversely and he laughed
when good fortune greeted him. He
rode the bumpers, trucks and rods
many times as did Dempsey in the
later years. He walked from town to
town, often hungry, always seeking
opportunity to prove his ability in the
fistic field"
NEVER MARKED UP
johnson, called by the experts zone
of the most scientific fighters of all
time, had an amazing record of fight
ing nearly thirty years and ending up
without mark. A stand-up fighter,
master in the science of timing and
countering, johnson has been immor-
tallzed as "the greatest defensive fight
er of all time" Writes Fleischer:
johnson boxed on his toes, could
block from almost any angle, was
lightning fast on his feet, possessed
ring daring, could feint an opponent
into knots and was master of the kid
ding game. In short, he possessed
everything that champion could hope
for-punch, speed, brains, cleverness,
blocking ability, and sharp shooting.
Name me another boxer in the entire
history of pugilism whose qualities
equalled that of LII Arthur! There is
none"
CHALLENGE TO JOE
Jack Johnson who twice had to win
the heavyweight title-frst from
Tommy Burns at Rushcutter's Bay,
Australia, Dec. %, 1908, and again at
Reno, July 4, 1910 against the famed
Jim Jeffries, stands today as chal-
lenge to Joe Louis followers who rate
the Bomber above the man from Gal
weston, Texas. Johnson's boxing skill
was superior to any challenger in the
ring today. This factor of boxing skill
must be successfully equalled by Louis
next week against Billy Conn who does
not rank with jeanette, McVey, Lang
ford, Ketchel, Childs, and others of
wicked reputation during the Johnson
era.
The chapters of Johnson's life con-
cerning inter-racial experiences natur-
ally have been made to appear worse
than they really were. johnson found
race prejudice on both sides. On some
charges he was framed.
IDOL IN CUBA
In is contended that johnson was
framed on the charge that sent him
to Europe. He voluntarily came back
and served his sentence and was such
a model prisoner that he became a pri-
son recreational director. During the
world war Johnson did all he could to
get funds for the wounded while in
Europe. He tried unsuccessfully to
enlist in the U. S. Army but pressure
groups" kept him out. He next tried
to enlist in the British Army with the
same result. Read all about this. Re-
garding the Willard fight, the white
boxer was the huge favorite. But,
Fleischer writes: "While in the States,
Willard was the favorite; in Havana it
was the reverse. With his golden smile,
his ability to mix it, his happy-go-
lucky ways and his knowledge of the
native language, Johnson was like
one of the Cubans. They adored him.
-. His white wife, Ruth Cameron, was
an object of alteration because in Cuba
mixed matches were not an oddity. :"
Black Dynamite will tell you plenty
about Johnson.