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Posted By: warshawlaw

The documentary only enhances the public perception and appreciation of him as a true pioneer. Did they mention (I did not see the documentary; PBS had some other crap on yesterday) that Johnson and Joe Choynski did time together in Texas after their 1904 interracial boxing match and that Choynski spent the incarceration time with Johnson boxing with him and effectively schooling the much younger man in the subtleties of fighting? Choynski was the only man to KO Johnson prior to Willard.

Scott is right on the nose about the Ketchel fight. There were only 3 weight divisions (light, middle and heavy) and Bob Fitzsimmons had been the first to hold both at the same time because he hit like a mule but was very thin and could make the 165# limit. Ketchel likewise hit like a mule and had a puncher's chance at beating Johnson. Johnson may have taken the fight lightly at first, but he was clearly knocked down and just as clearly came off the canvas to knock out Ketchel. I also have to wonder whether there would have been a rematch at some point had Ketchel not been murdered.