According to those who saw him fight, and particularly those who faced him, this was the hardest hitter of his era, and one of the hardest of all time.

As the first black to hold the heavy weight title, Johnson became the target of some of the most vicious racism ever seen in sports.  Not exactly a model for "Stepin Fetchit" Johnson beat his white opponents like a bad dog, frequently mocking and taunting them as he did so.  He had a prediliction for a flashy lifestyle, and most distressingly for the racists, white women.

This buck was so tough and hard hitting that the racists of his era did everything they could to take away his title and set him up.They just couldn't take the heat (or his predilection for caucasian ladies).He disposed of most of his opponents like a man swatting a fly or mosquito- SQUISH ! OVER ! Watching footage of this brilliant and powerful fighter inspires awe and makes one wonder what would happen if we were ever to see the likes of him today.

A pugilistic phenomenon in any era.