Why did Jack Johnson avoid certain fighters?

Question

Jack Johnson is one of my personal favorites because of his style and attitiude. ''The Galvaston Giant'' was a beast in the ring buuuuuuuuuuut, some people on here (u know who u are) have it in for Marciano (that he fought old men) and Dempsey ( that he avoided black fighters) But never is it asked why did Johnson avoid fighting,Sam McVey, Sam Langford (who Johnson had beat as a contender but chased Johnson for a fight much like Johnson did with Burns but never got a shot) Peter Jackson or Joe Jeanette. All whom were black. Jeanette even stated Johnson turned his back on his race when he won the title (Ken Burns book ''Unforgivable Blackness".) Johnson could have fought any of these great warriors in Europe or Cuba but never did. Can some1 give an honest NON RACIST answer to this question???? Why the double standard amongst some here in this forum? Like I said I love Johnson but it is a valid question.

Answer 1

The answer is simple......Jack knew there was no money in fighting black fighters + ( as you know ) he was smart enough to duck guys like Sam Langford who he knew would give him trouble in a title bout. My favorite is Jim Jefferies who , in his prime, was undefeated & never knocked down or out. Jim fought & beat  ( each twice ) Bob Fitzsimmons, Tom Sharkey & Jim Corbett . He broke the ribs of Bob, Tom & Jim when he fought them. Jim later offered to fight Bob, Tom & Jim ALL IN ONE NIGHT & they all refused . Jack Johnson told Ring Magazine that Jim Jefferies, in his prime, could have beaten Jack Dempsey & Joe Louis & himself ( Jack Johnson ). Jim Jefferies scored the quickest KO in Heavyweight Championship History of 55 seconds. Jim Jefferies won the Heavyweight Championship from Bob Fitzsimmons & it was only Jim's 13th fight. Sam Langford used to place newspaper ads offering to fight any man in the world EXCEPT Jim Jefferies.

Answer 2

Because many of the people on here are only interested in furthering their agenda - not honest facts or dialogue.

Answer 3

The answer is simple.   It's near impossible to give an accurate answer without the mention of race.   Its such a disgusting topic because no one can seem to discuss it peacefully.   Its just a fact that,  while God created us all to be equals,  there are some differences between members of different races.   "Different" doesn't always mean "Bad".

First,  Peter Jackson was well before Johnson's time.  Jackson fought during, and was avoided by,  John L. Sullivan.  Johnson fought Langford, McVey and Jeanette before winning the title.  He was the best among them.  He was wise to avoid Langford as Sam became more experienced.  

Because boxing, as well as everything else in America, was so dominated by Whites,  Johnson felt it would not be profitable to defend against Black fighters.  Whites just wouldn't pay much to see two Blacks fight.  They paid top dollar to see a White man have yet another shot at knocking Jack off the throne.  Again, not a pleasant topic to many but that's just the way it was at that time.  

Jack was wise to avoid Langford.  Jeanette and McVey were past their prime and would not have beaten Johnson.   Langford was better than both and would have beaten the unfocused Johnson.  

It's true that Johnson could have defended against Black contenders in other parts of the world where race would not have been as much a factor.  Jack was more focused on what being the champion could grant him.  He wasn't about to allow another Black man the chance to live as he did at the expense of his title.