Jack Johnson’s Defense
While Ali used his unparalleled speed and reflexes to dodge and slip his opponents’ punches, Jack Johnson was the real defensive savant. The “Galveston Giant” was nearly as adept at dodging punches as Ali, but he also utilized superior ring generalship, parrying his opponents’ punches, blocking with the elbow, feinting and clinching.
Johnson was so effective at defending his space and following-up with counter punches that he was way ahead of his time.
A century later, many boxing trainers still believe Johnson was the prototype defensive master who laid the blueprint for fighters on how to defend themselves. A testimony of his incredible defensive abilities.
