Racial tension was brewing because of this fight. Jeffries had not fought for six years and he had to work hard to lose over 100 pounds to get back to his proper fighting weight. In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James Jeffries came out of retirement and decided to challenge Jack Johnson. However, on December 26, 1908, Johnson finally won the world heavyweight title in a match with Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia – six years after Joe Gans was the first African-American to hold that title. He went on to defend this title 17 times, only vacating it after winning the world heavyweight title in 1908.Īt first, Jack’s efforts to win the world heavyweight title were thwarted when the then-champion, James Jeffries, refused to face him because black boxers were not allowed to fight for the world heavyweight championship in those days. His reign was the third longest in a 60-year history of the colored heavyweight title. On February 3, 1903, Johnson won his very first major championship – the world colored heavyweight title. He won about 50 fights against both white and black opponents. The defeat by Jack forever ended Childs’ claim to the colored heavyweight crown.īy 1903, Jack Johnson’s record showed nine wins, three losses, and five draws. Jack won the title by a technical knockout in the 12th round of the scheduled 20-round event. Childs had previously won this title and continued to claim to be the true colored champ despite losing the title in a bout with George Byers. On October 21, 1902, Jack Johnson beat Frank Childs, the former colored heavyweight champion.
Later in life, Jack credited his success to the coaching he received from Joe. During his time in jail, Johnson learned a lot about boxing and he also became friends with Joe. Since prizefighting was illegal in Texas, the two fighters were arrested, but they could not afford the bail.Īfter about 23 days in jail, their bail was reduced to a level they could afford. Joe was a very popular and experienced heavyweight fighter who knocked out Johnson in the third round. On February 25, 1901, Jack Johnson fought Joe Choynski in Texas. In 1900, the two fighters met again and this time, Johnson won the fight by a technical knockout when Hynes refused to come out for the 14th round. He fought with John Hynes and Hynes won this fight on a technical knockout in the fifth round of the scheduled six-round event.
#Jack johnson professional
On May 8, 1899, he had his third professional fight. He was knocked out in the second round by Charles Brooks. On November 1, 1898, while in Galveston, Texas, Jack made his debut as a professional boxer. His very first fight had a purse of only $1.50, but he jumped at the chance and won the fight.
#Jack johnson how to
He got a job in a carriage shop where he worked for an ex-fighter who taught him how to become a boxer.
However, he never made it anywhere because he was discovered by a train attendant and was thrown out.Īfter about five years in school, Jack dropped out to find a job. All of the children were taught to read and write by their parents.Īt an early age of 12, Jack decided to leave his hometown by hopping on a freight train.
His parents were former slaves and worked at blue-collar jobs in order to raise their six kids. He was the second child and the first son of Henry and Tina Johnson. Jack was born in Galveston, Texas, on March 13, 1878. During his lifetime, he faced a lot of controversy and was even charged with violating the Mann Act in 1912, which made it a felony to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes. He was the first African-American boxer to be crowned the world heavyweight champion. Jack Johnson, also known as the Galveston Giant, was a very famous American boxer during the Jim Crow era.
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