#james jeffries

[greenparakeetwantsbananas]

[interpretingtexas]

This Week in Texas History

July 4th, 1910 Jack Johnson Defeats James Jeffries to Become the First Undisputed African American Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World

James Jeffries (left) and Jack Johnson (right) during the “Fight of the Century,” 1910 [source]

Jack Johnson was born Arthur John in Galveston, Texas in 1878. He dropped out of school after the fifth grade to help support his family with odd jobs, including sparring. He became a professional prizefighter in 1897. After he was jailed for boxing in 1901 (which was illegal in Texas), he left Galveston for good. In 1903, he won the Negro Heavyweight title, but the white heavyweight champion, James Jeffries, refused to fight him. Despite Johnson's taunting, Jeffries would retire in 1905, undefeated and without facing Johnson. Jeffries successor, Tommy Burns, did face Johnson in 1908. Johnson won and claimed the title of Heavyweight Champion. However, many whites objected to the title, claiming that since Jeffries had retired undefeated, Burns was not the true Champion. Eventually, Jeffries was badgered out of retirement as the "great white hope" to defeat Johnson.

On July 4th, 1910, the two men faced off in Reno, Nevada, in a stadium specially built for the "Fight of the Century." Tensions were running high and, for public safety, guns were not allowed inside the stadium, nor was alcohol served. The fight lasted 15 punishing rounds before Jeffries threw in the towel, finally giving Johnson the undisputed claim to the title of Heavyweight Boxing Champion. After the fight, riots broke out in 50 cities across the US. Blacks were overjoyed at Johnson's win, while whites were humiliated and furious. Twenty people were killed, with hundreds more injured.

Johnson held on to the title until 1915, when he lost to Jess Willard. Jack Johnson remained a celebrated - and controversial - figure until his death in 1946.

[interpretingtexas]

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson was known as the Galveston Giant, and this Black boxer became one of American sports’ first superstars.

March 31st, 1878 Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, is born.

[chlostertalks]

The Fight of the Century: Johnson v. Jeffries (1910) 

On this day in Reno, Nevada in 1910, then-World Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson to former World Heavyweight Champion James Jeffries. Here is an excerpt from February’s Black History highlight on Johnson: 

On December 26, 1908–Boxing Day–Johnson fought for the World Heavyweight Title in Sydney, Australia. Johnson tried numerous times to challenge James Jeffries, who once reigned as champion. Canadian Tommy Burns would soon stand alone as champion, and agreed to fight Johnson. After 14 rounds, Johnson defeated Burns in a referee’s decision in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. Johnson became the first African-American to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

...

The win fueled racial tensions, calling for a “Great White Hope” to take Johnson out. Jeffries was egged on to come out of his 6-year retirement to fight Johnson in what was known as “the Fight of the Century” in 1910. The Independence Day fight took place in front of another crowd of 20,000 in Reno, Nevada. For the first time in Jeffries career, he was knocked to the canvas. He would be knocked down twice more; all three knockdowns happened in the 14th round. Jeffries would throw in the towel, and Johnson remained world champion. Johnson won $35,000 dollars, which is nearly $2 million in today’s currency.

Unfortunately, furious white people across America began rioting in protest of Jeffries’ loss. Los Angeles. Atlanta. Houston. New Orleans. Chicago. St. Louis. Pittsburgh. Philadelphia. New York. Nearly every major city had a race riot as a result of the match. Many were injured, and hundreds were killed; the victims were mostly Black. Johnson became a target for police for even the smallest of crimes. “The Fight of the Century” was banned at theaters; in fact, President Theodore Roosevelt, despite being an avid boxing fan, encouraged Congress to ban all boxing films through federal law, citing all the prostitution and gambling that tainted the sport. The ban was lifted in 1940.

For more on the fight, read articles from the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the LA Times 

[thelasttraintoarcady]

While I prepare for for my poetry gig on Sunday in Stoke Newington, The April Rainers, John, Erlend, Jakob and James have been preparing their third April rainers video somewhere near Aarhus.

[thelasttraintoarcady]

John Hassall’s The April Rainers as seen by Pete Doherty at Manchester’s Albert Hall last night...”smashing up the Albert Hall with melody” he says. Now for the Hackney Empire </,>) Pete’s new solo band look a bit different too...

[hotvm]

James Jeffries

[fonstudios]

FON Studios original