11/4/2013 1 Jack Johnson – Jack Dempsey 2 Jack Johnson • Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas, the second child and first son of former slaves who worked at blue-collar jobs to raise six children and taught them how to read and write • Johnson dropped out of school after five or six years of education to get a job as a dock worker in Galveston 3 Jack Johnson • After acquiring the job on the docks of Galveston, he earned side money by taking on fellow workers in brawls where onlookers threw money into a pot for the winner 4 5 Jack Johnson • Johnson made his debut as a professional boxer on Nov. 1, 1898 in Galveston, Texas when he knocked out Charley Brooks in the second round of a 15-round bout for what was billed as "The Texas State Middleweight Title“ 6 Jack Johnson • On February 25, 1901, Johnson fought Joe Choynski in Galveston • Choynski, a popular and experienced heavyweight, knocked out Johnson in the third round • Because prizefighting was illegal in the state at the time, they were both arrested 7 Jack Johnson • Bail was set at $5,000 which neither could afford • The sheriff permitted both fighters to go home at night so long as they returned to spar in the jail cell • Large crowds gathered to watch the sessions • After 23 days in jail, their bail was reduced to an affordable level and a grand jury refused to indict either man 8 Jack Johnson • Johnson attests that his success in boxing came from the coaching he later received from Choynski • The aging Choynski saw natural talent and determination in Johnson and taught him the nuances of defense, stating "A man who can move like you should never have to take a punch" • 9 Jack Johnson • Johnson's boxing style was very distinctive • He developed a more patient approach than was customary in that day, playing with his opponents, often carrying on a conversation with ring-siders at the same time as he was fighting • Johnson would begin a bout cautiously, slowly building up over the rounds into a more aggressive fighter 10 Jack Johnson • When annoyed, he often fought to punish his opponents rather than knock them out, endlessly avoiding their blows and striking with swift counters • He always gave the impression of having much more to offer and, if pushed, he could punch powerfully 1 11/4/2013 11 Jack Johnson • By 1903, though Johnson's "official" record showed him with nine wins against three losses, five draws and two no contests, he had won at least 50 fights against both white and black opponents • Johnson won his first title on February 3, 1903, beating Denver Ed Martin on points in a 20-round match for the World Colored Heavyweight Championship 12 Jack Johnson • Johnson held the title until it was vacated when he won the world heavyweight title from Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia in 1908 • His reign of 2,151 days was the third longest in the 60-year-long history of the colored heavyweight title • 13 Jack Johnson • In 1910, former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries came out of retirement to challenge Johnson ▫ He had not fought in six years and had to lose well over 100 pounds to get back to his championship fighting weight 14 Jack Johnson • Initially Jeffries had no interest in the fight, but those who wanted to see Johnson defeated badgered Jeffries mercilessly for months, and offered him an unheard sum of money, reputed to be about $120,000 to which he finally acquiesced 15 Jack Johnson • Racial tension was brewing leading up to the fight and to prevent any harm to either boxer, guns were prohibited within the arena as was the sale of alcohol or anyone under the effects of alcohol • Behind the racial attitudes being instigated by the media was a major investment in gambling for the fight with 10-7 odds in favor of Jeffries 16 17 18 Jack Johnson • The fight took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 20,000 people, at a ring built just for the occasion in downtown Reno, Nevada • Jeffries proved unable to impose his will on the younger champion and Johnson dominated the fight 19 Jack Johnson • By the 15th round, after Jeffries had been knocked down twice for the first time in his career, Jeffries corner threw in the towel to end the fight and prevent Jeffries from having a knock out on his record 20 21 Jack Johnson • The outcome of the fight triggered race riots that evening—the Fourth of July—all across the United States, from Texas and Colorado to New York and Washington, D.C. Johnson's victory over Jeffries had dashed white dreams of finding a "great white hope" to defeat him 2 11/4/2013 ▫ Many whites felt humiliated by the defeat of Jeffries 22 Jack Johnson • Blacks, on the other hand, were jubilant, and celebrated Johnson's great victory as a victory for racial advancement • Black poet William Waring Cuney later highlighted the black reaction to the fight in his poem "My Lord, What a Morning" • Around the country, blacks held spontaneous parades and gathered in prayer meetings • 23 Jack Johnson • Some riots were simply blacks celebrating in the streets • In certain cities, like Chicago, the police did not disturb the celebrations • But in other cities, the police and angry white citizens tried to subdue the revelers • In all, riots occurred in more than 25 states and 50 cities • About eight blacks and five whites died in the riots, and hundreds more were injured • 24 Jack Johnson • The color bar remained in force even under Johnson • Once he was the world's heavyweight champ, Johnson did not fight a black opponent for the first five years of his reign 25 Jack Johnson • He denied matches to black heavyweights Joe Jeanette (one of his successors as colored heavyweight champ), Sam Langford (who beat Jeanette for the colored title), and the young Harry Wills, who was colored heavyweight champ during the last year of Johnson's reign as world's heavyweight champ • Blacks were not given a shot at the title allegedly because Johnson felt that he could make more money fighting white boxers 26 Jack Johnson • Because black boxers with the exception of Johnson had been barred from fighting for the heavyweight championship because of racism, Johnson’s refusal to fight African-Americans offended the African-American community, since the opportunity to fight top white boxers was rare • Jeanette criticized Johnson, saying, "Jack forgot about his old friends after he became champion and drew the color line against his own people • 27 28 Jack Dempsey • Born in Manassa, Colorado, with the name of William Harrison Dempsey, he grew up in Colorado, West Virginia, and Utah, in a poor family • Because his father had difficulty finding work, the family traveled often • He dropped out of grade school to work 29 30 Jack Dempsey • Dempsey left home at the age of 16, eager to start a better life for himself • Due to lack of money, he frequently had to travel underneath trains and sleep 3 11/4/2013 • in hobo camps • However, Dempsey was a strong, powerful youth who soon discovered a talent for fighting • With the help of his older brother Bernie, he commenced training as a professional boxer 31 Jack Dempsey • Desperate for the money, Dempsey would occasionally visit saloons and challenge for fights saying "I can't sing and I can't dance, but I can lick any SOB in the house" ▫ If anyone accepted the challenge, bets would be wagered 32 33 Jack Dempsey • Dempsey's exact boxing record is not known, because he occasionally boxed under the pseudonym, "Kid Blackie“ • Meanwhile, he first appeared as "Jack Dempsey" in 1914 • During this early part of his career, Dempsey campaigned in Utah, frequently entering fights in towns up and down the Wasatch mountain range 34 Jack Dempsey • While the United States fought World War I in 1917, Dempsey worked in a shipyard while continuing to box • Afterward, he was accused by some boxing fans of being a slacker • It was not until 1920 that he was able to clear his name on that account, when evidence was produced showing he had attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army, but had been turned down • After the war, Dempsey spent two years in Salt Lake City, Utah—"bumming around", as he called it—in a very tough America, before returning to the ring • 35 Jack Dempsey • In 1918, Dempsey boxed 17 times, going 15–1 with one no-decision ▫ He avenged his defeat against Fireman Jim Flynn by returning the favor, knocking him out in the first round ▫ As PBS summarized: "Jack Dempsey's boxing style consisted of constantly bobbing and weaving. His attacks were furious and sustained. Behind it all was rage. His aggressive behavior prompted a rule that boxers had to retreat to a neutral corner and give opponents who had been knocked down a chance to get up" 36 Jack Dempsey • On July 4, 1919, Dempsey and World Heavyweight Champion Jess Willard met for the world title • In the event Willard was knocked down seven times—all in the first round—although it should be remembered that rules at the time permitted standing almost over a knocked- down opponent and hitting him again as soon as both knees had left the canvas ▫ Willard's corner would not let him answer the bell for the fourth round 37 38 Jack Dempsey • He was widely reported to have suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs, several broken teeth and a number of deep fractures to his facial bones, an unprecedented level of damage in boxing which aroused suspicion that Dempsey had cheated • Many questioned how the force capable of causing such damage had been transmitted 4 11/4/2013 • through Dempsey's knuckles without fracturing them 39 Jack Dempsey • After beating Jess Willard and winning the title, Jack Dempsey traveled