Boxing
It wasn't until the 20th century that nations with large immigrant populations, like Australia and the United States, held sports competitions that pitted members of one "race" against another. When Black American Jack Johnson took the heavyweight title from the Irish boxer Tommy Burns, the race issue in sports reached a new level. Some people did not believe that Black Americans had what it took to become heavyweight champions in the "manly art" of boxing. Throughout boxing history, many Black fighters have proudly stood as symbols of aspiration, success, power and resolve. Some overcame the systemic odds to become champions, while many illustrious names were denied deserved opportunities.
Whether due to his enormous talent in the ring or his ostentatious personality, Jack Johnson frightened many White Americans. To them, he not only represented the awful possibility of Black superiority, but he refused to "keep his place." He was not intimidated by White people, and he openly consorted with White women. Historian Jeffrey Sammons says, "Jack Johnson had to be the bravest man in America. I'm amazed at what he did publicly that many would not dare to do privately. In fact even looking at a White woman could be a death sentence at the time." The fear of a powerful, uncontrollable Black man remained on the minds of many when Joe Louis emerged as the next potential Black champion. Neither boxer was expressly political.
Johnson pushed the envelope of expectations, while Louis, although no champion of the status quo, looked moderate in comparison. But there is no doubt that these first Black heavyweight champions broke through the color lines in American sports. Louis had to win over White America through how he carried himself and how he performed. His managers set down rules for their young fighter, which they shared freely with reporters. Louis' public face would be the opposite of what Johnson's had been. Historian Jeffrey Sammons lists a few of Louis' "good Negro" rules:
"He could not gloat over opponents. Louis could not be seen in public with White women. He had to be seen as a Bible-reading, mother-loving, God-fearing individual, and not to be 'too Black.'"
Despite Louis' public image campaign, millions of Whites rooted against him, and awaited the "Great White Hope" who would claim boxing honors for their own race. Ultimately, though, what won Louis White America's acceptance was not his mild personality and good behavior, but his dramatic matchups with German champion Max Schmeling who, to many, represented the Nazi Party. Louis would become the symbol of American freedom over Nazi totalitarianism. Many Whites still wished to see Louis defeated by a White boxer, but in 1938, when Louis knocked out the German, the celebration wasn't confined to Black America alone. For the first time, Blacks and Whites, even in the deep South, had rooted with all their hearts for the same guy.
Throughout much of the 1940s, eight Black boxers named Charles Burley, Eddie Booker, Jack Chase, Cocoa Kid, Bert Lytell, Lloyd Marshall, Aaron Wade, and Holman Williams were heavily avoided by many other prominent boxers of the era, including Sugar Ray Robinson (who avoided Burley). Six of them never received title shots because of corrupt management and oftentimes their skin color. Instead, they had to fight each other, at times, to stay active. Lloyd Marshall, Cocoa Kid, Eddie Booker, and Charles Burley were eventually inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). Presented here is a boxing timeline, a few highlights of some boxing biggest and famous bouts down through the years.
Tom Molineaux
Regarded as America’s first great prizefighter, very little is known about Molineaux’s early life. Bare-kunckle boxer Tom Molineaux, was born in 1784 to parents enslaved by a wealthy Virginian plantation owner named Molineaux. He boxed with other slaves to entertain plantation owners. Molineaux earned his owner a large sum of money in winnings on bets, and was granted his freedom. Around 1804, he traveled to New York City, where he was said to have been involved in “several battles”.
He soon earned the title of “Champion of America.” After a few successfull fights, Molineaux left for England and began boxing there. He spent much of his career in Great Britain and Ireland, where he had some notable successes, and was able to earn money as a professional boxer. Molineaux was trained by Bill Richmond, another freed American slave who became a notable prize fighter in England. Richmond had been in England since 1777. The duo was a perfect fit. With Richmond’s help, Molineaux began to vanquish his opponents fight after fight after fight.
Molineaux’s first fight in England was on 24 July 1810, beating Jack Burrows in 65 minutes. Molineaux’s second fight in England was against Tom Blake whose nickname was “Tom Tough”. Molineaux was victorious after 8 rounds when Blake was knocked out by Molineaux. The ease with which he won quickly lined him up for a title shot against British heavyweight champion Tom Cribb.
In December of 1810, Molineaux challenged Tom Cribb, widely viewed as the Champion of England, in a classic encounter. Tom Cribb was a legend in the annals of bare-knuckle boxing. He routinely drew tens of thousands of spectators to his matches. He was also incredibly tough. Cribb was champ from 1809 thru 1822 and retired with only one loss, that in his first year as a professional fighter.
Molineaux fought Tom Cribb at Shenington Hollow in Oxfordshire for the English title. Long before the first punch was thrown, the pro-Cribb crowd began hurling racist invectives at the Black American fighter. Molineaux seemed undeterred. Round after round, he knocked the English champion down. After the 34 rounds Molineaux said he could not continue but his corner persuaded him to return to the ring. After some 39 rounds of give and take, Molineaux finally collapsed from exhaustion.
The rematch, on September 28, 1811, was equally as exciting and was watched by 15,000 people. Cribb broke his jaw and finally knocked him out in the 11th round. The two Crib fights had made Molineaux a celebrity in England. History had already been made. The first match had secured Molineaux a hallowed place as one of the sport’s top athletes. Molineaux fought 4 subsequent bouts, winning three and losing one. Molineaux’s prizefighting career ended in 1815. However he continued to show his talents in sparring exhibitions. After his visit to Scotland, he toured Ireland and boxed in exhibitions.
Joe Gans
Born Joseph Gaines in Baltimore in 1874, Joe Gans worked at the city’s waterfront, shucking oysters to help support his family. He did some fighting in Baltimore and that propelled him into a career in the ring. His earliest boxing experience was in a “battle royal” where several boxers were thrown into the ring together and the last one standing got the money. Weighing less than 137 pounds, Gans started boxing professionally in early 1891 in his home town. Joe Gans was the first African American to become a world boxing champion.
As a Black champion reigning during the Jim Crow era, he endured physical assaults, a stolen title, bankruptcy, and numerous attempts to destroy his reputation. Gans stepped into the boxing ring for the first time on October 23, 1893, and fought against Buck Myers, which ended in a no-decision. The Maryland born boxer had incredible speed and athleticism in his fighting style, which helped him to find his feet quickly and deliver accurate punches. He was able to use his unbeatable defense to protect himself from blows and then launch deadly counter-attacks to defeat his adversaries.
Gaining many fans within the boxing world, both White and Black alike, Gans created a “scientific” approach to fighting. His strategy was to learn his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses in order to compete with a game plan. He became known as a true student of the sport, earning him the nickname “Old Master.” His most significant accomplishment was his lightweight championship. By the time he was 26 he had earned a world lightweight title chance against Frank Erne in New York. He knocked out Erne to capture the world lightweight title on May 12th 1902.
That victory made Joe Gans the first Black man to hold any boxing championship. This did not sit well with many, and racism would in fact define both the rest of Gans’ career and his life. After winning the world lightweight title Gans remained champion for six years. One of Gans’ most notable bouts happened in September 1900, against Eddie Connolly, where he won after 10 rounds by KO. From the beginning, what set Joe apart was his intelligence and the sophistication of his ring technique.
Gans developed a style which capitalized on his exceptional athleticism and quickness. Because he was Black, he was compelled by boxing promoters to permit less-talented White fighters to last the scheduled number of rounds with him and occasionally to defeat him. On many occasions, even when he was the victor, he often watched his White opponents walk away with the lion’s share of the cash.
His last professional fight was against Jabez White on March 12, 1909, at the age of 34, Gans won it after 10 rounds in a non-title bout. Joe Gans final record, including newspaper decisions, stands at an astonishing 159-12-20, with many, if not most, of the draws and losses being bouts he actually won or intentionally forfeited. During his storied career, Gans was one of the first to fight with gloves marking the transition from the era of bare-knuckle fights to the modern era. For eighteen years Gans fought in three divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.