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Jack Johnson “The Galveston Giant” was born on March 31st 1878 and died on June 10th 1946.
He was the first African American “World Heavyweight Champion” after he beat Tommy Burns on December 26th 1908.
July 4th 1910, Johnson’s fight against James J. Jeffries was billed by the promoter and referee Tex Rickard as “The Fight of the Century”. Johnson stopped Jefferies in the 15th round of a scheduled 45-rounds.
July 5th 1915, in Havana, Cuba, Jack Johnson lost his title to Jess Willard by a 26th round knockout of 45 round fight. Johnson was graceful in defeat, ‘it was a clean knockout and the best man won. I would not belittle another man’s accomplishment and I wish Willard all the luck he would wish for himself.’
However, there was a lot of controversy about this fight where later Johnson confessed he took a dive. Willard dismissed Johnson’s story and said, ‘if Johnson throwed it, I wish he throwed it sooner. It was hotter than hell down there.’
Johnson was like a boxing scientist with his tremendous skill, and speed with the ability to catch his opponent’s punches. According to filmmaker Ken Burns, ‘for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth.’
