|
To make it clear for you I will post my view in two parts.
My view is based on the same thing as anyone else's - my reading of historical sources
1 - John L Sullivan stated on a few occasions at the time of Jack Johnson's ascendancy that he wouldnt fight a black man
2 - In my opinion this isnt true, and John L did and was prepared to fight black men. He fought Slade (a Maori,) and went after a fight with Godfrey (a black American)
When he was touring the country he fought black and white fighters.
__
Even if it was accepted (which I do not accept) that he never fought a black man (I agree he didnt defend his title against black men, especially Peter Jackson who was deserving of a shot) - this alone would only make him a bigot and a racist, not a coward.
No one that know's anything about the fight game would call him a coward. I doubt any of the people calling him such would have taken up the bet he used to offer of 1000 USD if anyone could go past 4 rounds with him.
John L used to walk into a bar and declare himself the toughest man in the room and challenge any man to disprove it, as did Dempsey (who was also a racist) in his early days. Jack Johnson never sunk to brawling in mid west bars - and was the bravest of any boxer.
But the simple fact is that no man gets to hold the world title because of their cowardice - even Tommy Morrison.
__________________
"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
|