willard... most maligned champ legacy

[HE Grant]

McVey was in his corner.

[mike]

mr. e maybe the most honeht thing johnson said was right after the fight--willard is too big and srtong to be beaten by a normal sized man.

[raylawpc]

I don't believe a word Johnson said to Edgren or anyone else about any aspect of the Willard fight. That's not to say the official weight of 205 wasn't wrong, of course, but Johnson's word on the subject of his weight is as irrelevant to me as his word on the subject of whether the fight itself was on the level.

Q: How could you tell if Jack Johnson was lying? A: His lips were moving.

That said, every report I have read from Havana said that he weighed between 225-230. The word came not just from Johnson, but others who were there and familar with him.

[HandToMouth]

3 views worth watching in re to the debate here:

johnson/willard fight:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=80vJI50MpW4

willard vrs moran, 1916:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nVS2PnolWOo

willard/dempsey 1919:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2pvIMalLM