Boxing
Died on this day: Jack Johnson
He was a fearless brawler on both sides of the ring, where he fought some of the fiercest enemies of his time, from Stanley Ketchell and Jim Jeffries – all the way to Jim Crow. Former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson died on June 10, 1946.
Born John Arthur Johnson on March 31, 1878, into a family of former slaves in Galveston, Texas, Johnson struggled on the streets early in his life, and after only five years of attending school, he began earning a living. traveling to different cities, working part-time. Johnson eventually landed in Up-to-date York for a brief stint under legendary Barbadian welterweight Joe Walcott, before returning to Texas, where he made his debut in illegal prize fighting as a teenager. At one point, when he was in his early 20s, he was imprisoned with future all-time great champion Joe Choynski, and the two were forced to spar at the local police station, where they were held. Johnson later called Choynski his best teacher.
With the “color line” of the infamous Jim Crow era still in effect, Johnson was forced to face some of the greatest black warriors of his time on several occasions. Sam McVey, Joe Jeanette and the great Sam Langford were integral to Johnson’s art education during these years, but Johnson’s ambitions were much greater than being the best man on only one side of the racial divide.
He resolved to challenge Heavyweight Champion Tommy Burns anywhere in the world and traveled frequently to taunt and provoke Burns wherever he went. He finally managed to catch up with Burns in Australia and after a brutal beating, he was declared the winner of the fight when the police had to intervene to stop the fight and save the enemy from further punishment.
Jeffries (left) did not retire after a year and a half of public pressure to challenge Johnson. (Photo: PA Images via Getty Images)
There was a hunt for a man who would “reclaim the honor of the White race,” as the writer Jack London, among others, declared. The search for the “great white hope” led to former champion Jim Jeffries, who retired undefeated as heavyweight champion several years ago, being asked to return to fighting. On a scorching day on July 4, 1910 Johnson brutally beat the aging Jeffries in what was dubbed “the fight of the century.” The outcome of the brawl sparked race riots across America that were unparalleled until the Los Angeles riots of the 1990s following the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of driver Rodney King.
Unable to dethrone Johnson in the ring, the racist mob that wanted to destroy him took a different approach and soon found a hole in Johnson’s guard. The fighter’s preference for white women resulted in him being detained and briefly imprisoned for violating the Mann Act, an dated law designed to thwart interracial relationships.
Tired of persecution in his own country and forced to travel the world to secure fights and other appearances, Johnson was allegedly offered a return to the US, but only after losing the title. He succeeded when he was detained by Jess Willard in Cuba in 1915.
After returning to the United States, Johnson continued to cash in on his celebrity status by promoting several products and companies to support his lavish lifestyle, opening several nightclubs and other businesses, and even receiving a patent to improve the popular tool.
However, he remained a convicted felon for the rest of his life due to violations of the Mann Act. The dispute would be resolved a century later when President Donald Trump, at the urging of Sylvester Stalonne and other public figures, posthumously pardoned Johnson.
True to his penchant for the rapid life, Johnson ultimately died in a car accident in 1946 at the age of 68. He finished his career with 54 wins, with only six losses and eight draws, and 34 knockouts. He faced the best of his era, including middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel, “Fireman” Jim Flynn, Philadelphia’s Jack O’Brien, Bob Fitzimmons, Marvin Hart and many others.
His career spanned over 33 years, and his legacy beyond boxing as one of the most defiant and fearless opponents of racist laws of his time is unparalleled in his time. It would take the newborn Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) about 50 years to barely equal him in this field.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.
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