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yes.. he lost those fights when he was learning how to fight and was "literally" starving.
The point is that Johnson BEAT Langford twice, when they were both in their prime. and Burns gave Johnson a title shot aftre being chased and taunted for three years,,, and when Jack caught up with him at last he gave him such a beating that he had to physically lift him up to prevent him being knocked out at least 6 times.
Put yourself in Jack Johnson's position.. which fight would you have taken... given the history, given the racial situation... Langford or Jeffries?
Langford was a wonderful fighter, but he was a smaller man than Jack. Jack beat him once by outboxing him, and once in an all out brawl. Jack did lose some fights coming up when he was learning... fighters didnt have protected careers like they do now.
Obviously I never saw him live... but from the film Ive seen and what Ive read, I judge him as the best. The best defensive fighter ever, and someone who won the greatest title in the world when ALL of white America was against him.
Joe Louis beat Max Schmelling with everyone behind him.
Jack Johnson beat James Jeffries against a whole nation.
I genuinely think, as great a slugger as Joe was, that Jack Johnson could have beaten Joe Louis when he was 50 years old... Joe wouldnt have laid a full out punch on him in 50 rounds, let alone 15.
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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."
The Gospel of Thomas
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