Jack Johnson in his prime vs. Muhammed Ali in his prime, who would win

Question

Jack Johnson in his prime vs. Muhammed Ali in his prime, who would win

Answer 1

jack johnson would beat his butt with his guitar

Answer 2

Ali

Answer 3

this would not have been an easy fight for both of them, but ali has the edge in handspeed and reach.....and he wouldn't let johnson tie him up in the clinches as often as he'd like.

ali by decision.

Answer 4

Call me crazy but for some reason I like Johnson in this match up. I think his style gives Ali fits right up until he knocks him out in the 6th round or so.  

Answer 5

ALI would have been HVY WHT. CH.  until he fought Jack Dempsey!

Answer 6

Ali is the greatest

Answer 7

I actually laugh whenever people compare Johnson to ALI.  The only thing they ever had in common is that both defied THE POWERS THAT BE during a time when it wasn't even SAFE to be Black in the US.  Johnson is often given credit simply for being the first Black champion.  

In itself it IS a monumental accomplishment.  However, I prefer to look at the fighters IN THE RING.  Here there are VERY FEW comparisons.  Johnson WAS a boxer, if you compare him to the plodders of his time.  He fought during a time when Heavyweights were thought of as the strongest men in the world.   They fought that way,  often beating the tar out of each other until one fell.  There was usually not much left of the victor.

Johnson was smart to "Hit and not get Hit"  but it wasn't hard to do.  It's amazing that he could do it so well but he would have a lot of trouble with many of the later day fighters.  Anyone from Joe Louis and after would be a bit of a task for Johnson.  He would beat guys like Patterson, Johansson and many other "ordinary" fighters who were just lucky enough to "Borrow" the title for a few days.  

In terms of STYLE, there really is Little comparison between Johnson and ALI.  Jack did NOT move like ALI did.  He moved enough to keep ahead of the stationary opponents of his day but that wasn't very hard to do.  He would never have been able to deal with ALI's footwork.  I have always maintained that Gene Tunney would give both Johnson and Louis all they can handle.

Jack Johnson is more like a poorman's Larry Holmes.  Holmes didn't move like ALI but he could move well enough to deal with nearly anyone else.  He had all he needed to stay out of range and pick his shots.  Jack had the same DURING HIS TIME.  In later years when fighters actually learned about defense,   Johnson would not have been as successful "Catching punches".  He would catch more of them with his CHIN than his Glove if he dared try.  

I can't see Johnson dealing with ALI's movement.  Again, in comparison to Holmes,  I believe ALI would win but he would HAVE to MOVE against Holmes as this is the ONLY style Larry never really mastered an answer for.  ALI could not beat Larry in any stationary way.  

Jack had fast hands but I'm SURE he never faced anyone like ALI.  The one thing that can ALWAYS be said of ALI is that he faced EVERY kind of Style.  Name a fighter in history and I can give you one of ALI's opponents who has at least SOMETHING in common.  NO ONE Jack faced is like ALI.

ALI by CLEAR decision or,  dare I say,  TKO in 14.