“Fair fighter but he is black”- When a racist heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries denied fighting legendary Jack Johnson
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James J. Jefferies denied fighting legendary Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson was denied his title shot against the undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jefferies. Jack Johnson was born to a family of former slaves in 1878. A period during which racial discrimination was the norm across the USA. Johnson made his professional boxing debut at 19 and won the Colored World heavyweight championship by the age of 24.
After being the undefeated champion for nearly 4 years he set his eyes on the World Heavyweight championship. But the then Champion James J. Jefferies refused to fight Jack Johnson with The World Heavyweight Championship on the Line. James responding to Jack Johnson’s challenge said, “This fellow Johnson is a fair fighter but he is black and for that reason, I would never fight him.”
However after James retired from the sport, Jack Johnson managed to get his shot at the title. Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns to be the first African American to win the World heavyweight championship. After becoming the champion, Johnson became the Public enemy number one for the White people. Johnson managed to defeat every white challenger thrown at him forcing James J. Jefferies to come out of retirement.
How Jack Johnson made The fight of the century possible
James J. Jefferies was now the white man’s only hope to dethrone a black champion. Jack Johnson had retained the championship on three previous occasions coming into this fight. The fight between two undefeated Fighters was deemed the fight of the century.
Although Johnson was the champion, the media portrayed him as the underdog. Every white man thought James would dethrone Johnson. A crowd of 18200 people gathered around a stadium in Reno, Nevada to face the clash between the heavyweights. In the end, Jack managed to shut down his haters after knocking out James J. Jefferies in the 15th round.
Also Read: Tommy Burns: The Shortest and Only Candian Heavyweight Champion
The match’s outcome shook the whole nation as it triggered race riots across the USA. More than 25 riots took place across 50 states. Later on, Jack Johnson was also framed on a charge of trying to transport white women for immoral purposes and sentenced to prison for one year. (Source – FindLaw)
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Soumya Ranjan
(2167 Articles Published)