Jack Johnson Archives — Boxing News 24/7

When The Fourth Of July Meant A Heavyweight Super-Fight

July 4, 2020 by James Slater

Jack Johnson - Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day, a huge celebration in America. But there is no big fight today, or tonight – and this is not due to the ongoing battle with the coronavirus. For though there was a time when it was unthinkable for this big day to go by without an enormous prize fight taking place, usually a heavyweight fight, this has not been the case for many a year.

Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day, a huge celebration in America. But there is no big fight today, or tonight – and this is not due to the ongoing battle with the coronavirus. … read full article “When The Fourth Of July Meant A Heavyweight Super-Fight”

105 Years Ago Today – Jack Johnson Takes A “Dive” Against Jess Willard

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020 by James Slater

Jack Johnson - Willard held the title for over four years, yet he defended just once, picking up a decision over Frank Moran in March of 1916. Then, on Independence Day in 1919, Willard met a ferocious slugger by the name of Jack Dempsey. The rest is history. Once again fighting under a scorching sun, Willard took the beating of beatings as Dempsey worked him over, smashing his ribs, teeth, and eye socket. Like Johnson before him, Willard had an excuse for losing. Dempsey, Willard claimed in later life, had used loaded gloves. As with Johnson's claim, not too many people believed Willard's tale (although some did, and some in fact still do).

Imagine having to train for a 45 round fight. Imagine having to do so if you are a past your best, 37-year-old heavyweight champion of the world who is not allowed to return home for … read full article “105 Years Ago Today – Jack Johnson Takes A “Dive” Against Jess Willard”

On This Day In 1910: The Great Stanley Ketchel Is Murdered, Shot In The Back

July 28, 2020October 15, 2019 by James Slater

Reviewing one of his most famous fights

Today in 1910, as he was relaxing and eating breakfast at a ranch in Conway, Missouri, middleweight great Stanley Ketchel was killed at the young age of 24. … read full article “On This Day In 1910: The Great Stanley Ketchel Is Murdered, Shot In The Back”

Anthony Joshua Names His Three Greatest Heavyweight Champs

December 29, 2018 by James Slater

Jack Johnson - Like many fighters before him, Anthony Joshua is a huge fight fan (it seems obvious a successful fighter would be a fan of his chosen sport but there are exceptions: Jermain Taylor for example, who said as champ that he is no boxing fan) - and AJ is also a student of the history of boxing.

Like many fighters before him, Anthony Joshua is a huge fight fan (it seems obvious a successful fighter would be a fan of his chosen sport but there are exceptions: Jermain Taylor for example, who … read full article “Anthony Joshua Names His Three Greatest Heavyweight Champs”

Sly Stallone to make boxing flick on heavyweight great Jack Johnson

May 30, 2018 by James Slater

Jack Johnson - Movie legend Sylvester Stallone was instrumental in the recent posthumous pardoning of heavyweight great Jack Johnson, seeing as how it was Sly who got in touch with President Trump, urging the current commander in chief to do the right thing; which Trump did, last week. Now, the creator of the enormously successful, there-isn't-a-boxing-fan-who-hasnt-seen-them 'Rocky' films, is set to make a movie on the man who ruled the heavyweight world back in 1908 to 1915.

Movie legend Sylvester Stallone was instrumental in the recent posthumous pardoning of heavyweight great Jack Johnson, seeing as how it was Sly who got in touch with President Trump, urging the current commander in chief … read full article “Sly Stallone to make boxing flick on heavyweight great Jack Johnson”

World Boxing Council: Jack Johnson pardon

May 30, 2018May 29, 2018 by WBC

Jack Johnson - Mauricio Sulaimán: May 24 will be registered in the books of history as a great day for the sport of boxing, human equality and inclusion, as the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, signed the presidential pardon of boxer Jack Johnson at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D. C.

Mauricio Sulaimán: May 24 will be registered in the books of history as a great day for the sport of boxing, human equality and inclusion, as the President of the United States of America, Donald … read full article “World Boxing Council: Jack Johnson pardon”

President Donald Trump Pardons Jack Johnson

May 25, 2018 by James Stillerman

Jack Johnson - President Donald J. Trump granted a long overdue posthumous pardon to the first African-American heavyweight world champion, Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson for his 1913 conviction for violating the Mann Act.

President Donald J. Trump granted a long overdue posthumous pardon to the first African-American heavyweight world champion, Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson for his 1913 conviction for violating the Mann Act.

“I am taking this very … read full article “President Donald Trump Pardons Jack Johnson”

Video: Jack Johnson pardoned by President Trump

May 25, 2018 by Rummys Corner

On Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned former world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. Alongside the president were actor Sylvester Stallone, best known for playing Rocky Balboa, and also present were former undisputed heavyweight champion … read full article “Video: Jack Johnson pardoned by President Trump”

Justice for Jack Johnson at long last

May 24, 2018 by WBC

Jack Johnson - President Donald Trump has presented a posthumous pardon for the Great Jack Johnson, the first black Heavyweight Champion of the World, yet also and lamentably, a victim of the cruel and searing racism of that era.

President Donald Trump has presented a posthumous pardon for the Great Jack Johnson, the first black Heavyweight Champion of the World, yet also and lamentably, a victim of the cruel and searing racism of that … read full article “Justice for Jack Johnson at long last”

Jack Johnson pardoned

May 25, 2018May 24, 2018 by WBC

Jack Johnson - U.S President Donald Trump has today pardoned Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, who was wrongly convicted in 1913 of transporting a white woman across State lines.

U.S President Donald Trump has today pardoned Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, who was wrongly convicted in 1913 of transporting a white woman across State lines.

Decades after Johnson was convicted under the … read full article “Jack Johnson pardoned”