Do you know the story of Jack Johnson?

[ccowden 0]

No, not the singer. I am talking about arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer to ever live. Please take the time to read this. It was an eye-opener for me and an education I was happy to receive. Hopefully at least a few people will feel the same.

I had never heard of Jack Johnson the boxer, and almost no one I have asked has heard of him either, which makes his story even more amazing and disgraceful at the same time.

Back in the late 1800's, Jack Johnson was born to Henry and Tiny Johnson who were former slaves. Jack left school in 5th grade and basically did whatever he could to earn a buck and started boxing other black boys as entertainment for white men, where they would throw some money on the ring to the winner. He became the number one guy to beat and did pretty well with the money. Then he was thrown in jail because what he was doing was illegal.

Once out of jail, he quickly became the Negro Boxing Champion and wanted to fight the white champion, Jim Jefferies, who refused to fight him because he was black. When Tommy Burns became the Champion of the World, Jack followed him all over the world, taunting him to step into the ring with him and fight him. A white fighting a black for the Championship of the World was not allowed at the time, but finally Tommy Burns and the boxing commission caved and allowed the fight to go on in Australia in 1908, and for it to be filmed, which was a big deal at the time, because they all wanted to see this Jack Johnson be defeated so badly. Johnson punished Burns brutally and the police ordered that the cameras stop rolling, and to this day no footage exists past a certain point in the bout. Then, instead of allowing Johnson to knock burns out, the police ordered the fight be stopped. Jack Johnson easily defeated Burns to win the bout, but still was not officially given the title.

The "white world" went into an uproar and insisted that there be a white guy to beat Jack Johnson. Challengers came and Johnson easily beat every one. The whites and the boxing commission started to pressure Jim Jefferies to come out of retirement as the "Great White Hope" and defeat Johnson. Finally, after too much pressure to refuse, Jefferies agreed to the fight.

The fight and "The Great White Hope" were hyped up so much, that again, the fight was to be filmed and have a live crowd of more than 25,000 to see it. The entire white country was behind Jefferies and wanted so badly to see their white hope defeat this black man.

Johnson gave Jefferies the worst beating he ever received. When Jefferies was knocked down for the 3rd time, the referee SHOULD have stopped the fight and awarded the win to Johnson by way of TKO, but no such thing happened. The fight was allowed to continue illegally. Jefferies was knocked down two more times, the last time being knocked through the ropes where his three corner men illegally helped him back up and into the ring so he could continue to fight. It seemed that they were doing everything possible to not let this fight end so that Johnson would not defeat the white Jefferies. But finally the ref called the fight and a riot ensued. In fact, riots all over the country broke out as soon as word arrived that Johnson had defeated Jefferies. Whites rioted against blacks with brutal beatings with the police mostly turning a blind eye.

It was made illegal to show any films of Johnson beating white guys. And the media did it's best to make Johnson go away.

Johnson went on as the official Champion of the World for another seven years with no real contenders.

When the allure of Johnson was winding down, the boxing commission and then Middleweight Champion, Stanley Ketchel approached Johnson with a deal to stage a fight that would be hyped up to draw lots of money and interest, in which the two would fight just hard enough to put on a good show and both would make a good deal of money. Johnson agreed. However, the plan was actually to catch Johnson when he was worn down and vulnerable so that Ketchel could sucker-punch him and beat the black man in front of this huge crown thus ending the reign of Johnson.

Ketchel threw a huge right that sent Johnson to the canvas, but didn't even come close to knocking him out. It was 30 seconds later that Ketchel realized the huge mistake he had made. Johnson got up and almost killed Ketchel. It is actually said that Ketchel's teeth were embedded in Johnson's glove.

Finally in 1915, a young white boxer named Jess Wilard came along that the boxing commission thought has a good shot at beating the now 37 year old Johnson. But they were not sure he could do it a 10 or 12 round fight, so they scheduled the fight for 45 rounds, outside in 105 degree heat, ensuring that Wilard would have enough time and the right conditions to out-last Johnson. Johnson lasted to round 26 before finally being knocked out by Wilard, thus ending the reign of Johnson and giving the whites back their precious title.

Johnson was later arrested for allegedly bringing a woman illegally over the border from Mexico and was told to leave the country and never come back or he would go to jail.

The white nation had finally gotten rid of Jack Johnson and all the "embarrassment" he had caused their egos.

I was amazed to hear this story be told on a TV show about the greatest heavyweights of the world, and after watching the show, it was no surprise to me why I had never heard of Jack Johnson. It seems that the story and true history of Johnson is still mostly kept quiet. In fact, if you do a search about him, you will find bits and pieces of this full story, with much of the details still being left out of how Johnson was discriminated against and treated so unfairly.

Johnson was Mohammed Ali's idol as a boxer and much of Ali's career was for the revenge of Johnson. From time to time, Ali would hold his glove up to his ear in a "Do you hear that?" manner, and say, "Do you hear the ghost in the house?" He was referring to Jack Johnson.

Johnson WAS finally inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in the early 1950's, But only after Johnson was killed in a car accident in 1946.

This story did a number on me from so many different angles, so I figured I would share it. Pretty amazing story, yet pretty sad as well.

[windcatcher 0]

I thought this was gonna be a story about the singer

Mother to the cutest little thing in the world...

[ccowden 0]

Nope, this is a much more important person in history than the singer will ever be. You should read it.

[masterrig 1]

I recall my Granddad, talk about Jack Johnson. If, I'm not mistaken, 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett, turned-down a chance at fighting Johnson. I'm going to do some checking on that.


Chuck

[ccowden 0]

Johnson was turned down MANY times in his career. Not sure about Corbett.

[masterrig 1]

Corbett, never boxed Johnson. Corbett, lost his title to James J. Jeffries, Corbett's former sparring partner, after 26-rounds. Corbett, returned to the Broadway stage after the second fight he lost to Jeffries. I checked it out.
Corbett, almost lost his boxing license after breaking a cowboy's jaw in a Denver saloon. Corbett, claimed it was self defense and continued boxing.


Chuck


Chuck

[DrewGPM 0]

Jack Johnson has been a hero of mine for a long time. Ken Burns did a great documentary for PBS...I watch it every time it comes on TV. i wish someone would put together a feature film that tells the story...since most people won't watch the documentary.

There are a lot of inspirational stories about boxers. Unfortunately the antics of a freak like Mike Tyson have turned so many people off. Sad, because his story is pretty incredible too.

The story of Joe Louis and Max Schmeling is another great one. The movie, Joe and Max, is a pretty accurate...and a pretty well put together film. it's not as incredible as the Jack Johnson story...but still pretty amazing.

[masterrig 1]

In my life-time, it's been Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali! What a boxer and again, another story. Alot of folks didn't like his 'mouth' but, the guy was a showman. The supposed fued with Howard Cosell, was just a part of the 'show'. To me, Ali, was the 'greatest'.


Chuck

[ccowden 0]

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I thought this was gonna be a story about the singer

Ya know, the sad thing is, if this WAS a story about Jack Johnson the singer and his "struggles" to make it in the music industry, it would probably get alot more response.

[wildcard451 0]

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I thought this was gonna be a story about the singer

Ya know, the sad thing is, if this WAS a story about Jack Johnson the singer and his "struggles" to make it in the music industry, it would probably get alot more response.

Too right. You'd have all the vapid little teeny boppers in here fawning over him.

or something like that.

Jack Johnson was a badass.

[masterrig 1]

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Quote

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I thought this was gonna be a story about the singer

Ya know, the sad thing is, if this WAS a story about Jack Johnson the singer and his "struggles" to make it in the music industry, it would probably get alot more response.

Too right. You'd have all the vapid little teeny boppers in here fawning over him.

or something like that.

Jack Johnson was a badass.

_______________________________________

Good Lord! I'm not ready to deal with the 'Tiger Beat' crowd!


Chuck

[McDuck 0]

I'm fascinated with this story. It's very telling of a society that strives to cover up a person's history and struggles with injustice because of the color of their skin. Honor must skip certain gene pools entirely.

Thanks for sharing this incredible account, Chris.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[steveorino 7]

If my memory of history is correct, his worse crime was dating white women, a sin far greater than beating a white man.

James Earl Jones did a movie about him.

steveOrino

[ccowden 0]

Yeah, I found myself absolutely fascinated with the story. The next day I asked almost everybody I saw if they had heard of Jack Johnson the boxer, and only one person had. And their knowledge was extremely limited. I was also amazed at how most of the stories I could find on him on the internet left TONS of facts out and just made him seem to be just another boxer with no huge story to be told.

[McDuck 0]

Revisionist histories are terrible travesties, in my personal opinion. It sickens me to think that a man's life is not only not worthy of note because he was black, but that he was deserving of total obscurity in the eyes of a vast majority of those times. Cro-magnon would be proud to see the lack of progress.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[ccowden 0]

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If my memory of history is correct, his worse crime was dating white women, a sin far greater than beating a white man.

James Earl Jones did a movie about him.

Yup- pretty much everything that white people hated to see him do... he did. He used that to his advantage in order to almost force them to fight him and allow his fights. He dated white women, wore fur coats, had gold-plated teeth and made lots of money. He was also very educated and spoke 2 languages. He was no dummy, and he knew how to get what he wanted in a time that did nothing but try to hold him down. He probably had a greater effect on the cultural racism of the day than Rosa Parks, but because of his timing, his story is seldom told.

[Thanatos340 1]

Most all serious Boxing Fans do know about Jack Johnson. Any of the "All time Greats" list that does not have Jack Johnson in the Top 10 has no credibility at all.

He was an outspoken, arrogant man that loved women and booze... He probably would have fit right in with Skydivers!!

He did serve Time for Transporting White women across state line for immoral purposes. He also started the night Club that eventually became the world famous Cotton Club in Harlem. He held several Patents as well.

He was far from a Saint... But he did live his life his way in spite of the unforgivable attitudes of the times.

[airtwardo 7]

Quote

In my life-time, it's been Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali! What a boxer and again, another story. Alot of folks didn't like his 'mouth' but, the guy was a showman. The supposed fued with Howard Cosell, was just a part of the 'show'. To me, Ali, was the 'greatest'.


Chuck

***

YUP!

And a far better insight about who & what,
Ali the 'MAN' is...

Came to me when I understood, at least in part, what it took for him to STAND by his convictions
concerning Vietnam.

His stand, though unpopular and quite 'costly' to him both personally and professionally, was True, Solid and Heartfelt.

He'd say what he'd do...and do what he said.

His skills in the ring speak for themselves, his integrity can never be questioned...

He raised the 'bar' beyond what professional athletes before or after his time could ever hope to reach.

That's why he IS "The Greatest"

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skybytch 273]

There's a singer named Jack Johnson?

Thanks for posting this, Chris. I'm not a boxing fan but I love to hear stories about people who lived their lives on their own terms, despite what others said about them or did to them.

[ccowden 0]

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Thanks for posting this, Chris. I'm not a boxing fan but I love to hear stories about people who lived their lives on their own terms, despite what others said about them or did to them.

Jack Johnson certainly did just that. And on a level that none of us can even imagine.

I am glad you appreciated the story.

[SwampThing 0]

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I love to hear stories about people who lived their lives on their own terms, despite what others said about them or did to them.

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Sometimes anyway!

The Pessimist says: "It can't possibly get any worse!"
The Optimist says: "Sure it can!"

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Quote

In my life-time, it's been Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali! What a boxer and again, another story. Alot of folks didn't like his 'mouth' but, the guy was a showman. The supposed fued with Howard Cosell, was just a part of the 'show'. To me, Ali, was the 'greatest'.


Chuck

***

YUP!

An a far better insight about who & what,
Ali the 'MAN' is...

Came to me when I understood, at least in part, what it took for him to STAND by his convictions
concerning Vietnam.

His stand, though unpopular and quite 'costly' to him both personally and professionally, was True, Solid and Heartfelt.

He'd say what he'd do...and do what he said.

His skills in the ring speak for themselves, his integrity can never be questioned...

He raised the 'bar' beyond what professional athletes before or after his time could ever hope to reach.

That's why he IS "The Greatest"

_____________________________________


Amen!


Chuck