Jack Johnson(CIRCA 1910) v Mike Tyson(1986)?

Question

How would the'Galveston Giant'fare against a young Tyson.who I belive at this period in hs life would not only have been a match for any fighter past or present,but would have given most a sound beating.Ive seen many times Johnson's ko by the hapless Willard and from my viewpoint wouldnt have lasted 3 rounds against Mike.Go and take a serious look at both fighters in these periods,what do you think?This is a serious question!

Answer 1

There is so much that can be said bout this fight.  I'll do my best to condense it.  Look at Young Mike vs Old Holmes for an idea of how this fight would unfold.  

I have always maintained that Rocky Marciano would grind down Johnson and KO him.  Styles make fights.   If Jack could train like today's fighters than it could also be like Tyson-Holyfield one but that is less likely.

Johnson fought before combination punching was even invented.  The reality is that it's very hard to imagine Young Tyson losing to anyone before Joe Louis.  Boxing is just so different in so many ways.   People talk of all Dempsey's KOs.  What they leave out is the fact that he was allowed to stand over a fallen foe.  There was no  Standing 8 count.  He could KO King Kong if given that kind of leverage.  

In the "AS IS" cagegory Mike would beat a lot of them.  IF you could put all fighters in the same era Mike would have more losses.  SInce your question places Jack in 1910 we go "AS IS".  

Tyson by KO in 4.

I can tell you why.  Johnson fought some great fighters.  He beat Langford when he was still a welterweight and avoided him later.  He beat other great fighters also.  But Mike is more advanced than all of them.  Jack has never faced someone who is nearly his height and surpasses him in strength.  The closest is Jeffires and he's no where near Young Tyson.  Also remember,   Jack is no "Giant" in today's boxing.  He only stands 2 inches taller than Mike but gives away about 11lbs.  

Tyson 5'11"  216lbs.               Johnson 6'1"   205lbs.  

Jack fought well when allowed to dictate the pace.  Since he was a counter puncher,  and the clods he fought had not yet learned much about defense or anything about combinations, it was easy for him to excel.  Jim Corbett is often credited for countering and combinations but Jack took it to a much higher level.  Not many fought that way.  Mike was a tank.  He threw deadly combinations with speed Jack has never seen.  

Jack's best chance would be to train the way Holyfield did,  tie Mike up, push him back and keep him off balance.  Then pop him with jabs and crosses.  Keep him off his game until the later rounds.  And, like Evander did,  foul the ''bleep'' outta him.   Thats a tall order for Jack 1910.  

If he trained today,  Johnson would be about 211lbs.  He then has a slight advantage and would probably beat Mike in the late rounds.  

Jack 1910 falls just short as he is not given time to set himself and dictate the pace of the battle.  Young Tyson just wouldn't co operate and Jack would find himself counted out not later than round 4

Answer 2

Mike by 13th round kayo, if he was on.If Jack is motivated, it could last a lot longer.

Answer 3

Tyson wouldn't make it out of the first round.  Two different levels of fighter, you insult the memory of Jack Johnson with this question.  If Mike couldn't play the part of a bully, he was a B rated slugger.  That wouldn't have been close to enough to worry Jack Johnson.  Mike would be totally out classed in this one.

Jack Johnson by KO inside of one round.

Answer 4

Are we talking about the same Tyson that got Ko'd at 24 yrs old by that all time great Buster Douglas? Then got knocked out by Holyfield. Then got a rematch and bit Holyfield's ear off cause he realized he was about to get knocked out again?

Or are you talking about the one who knocked out that all time great lightheavy weight Micheal Spinks and the Great 38 year old (with a gut) Larry Holmes?

Against Johnson who fought several 20+ round fights (like to see Mike try that) and held the title for 8 yrs!

Whichever Tyson it was, Johnson Ko's him around the 9 or 10th once Tyson realizes he can scare Johnson!  

Bring the ear tenderizer!!!

Answer 5

Tyson would take him out in the first round.

Answer 6

Mike Tyson will win by KO. Jack Johnson was a great boxer who was before his time but his chin is questionable. he was knock down by Stanley Ketchell, a middleweight, so Mike power is too much for him.

Answer 7

Tyson would have KOed him before JJ even made it to the ring. Not even a close fight. The count would have lasted longer than JJ was on his feet