Jack Johnson KOs Great White Hope!

On this day – July 4th, 1910 “The Galveston Giant,” Jack Johnson KOs “The Great White Hope,” Jim Jeffries and retains his Heavyweight Crown. Billed by promoter Tex Rickard as “The Fight of the Century.” Jack Johnson became the Colored Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1903. However, unsatisfied with his accomplishment, Johnson entered the San Francisco saloon owned and operated by the World Heavyweight Champion, James J. Jeffries, and challenged Jeffries to defend his title against him. Jeffries refused Johnson’s challenge and explained: “I won’t meet you in the ring because you’ve got no name and we won’t draw flies. But I’ll go downstairs to the cellar with you and lock the door from the inside. And the one who comes out with the key will be the champ.” After Johnson won the decision over Tommy Burns to win the World Heavyweight Championship on December 26, 1908, Jeffries was persuaded to come out of retirement to fight Johnson. Jeffries had not fought since August 1904, almost six years previously, and his weight had ballooned to over 300 pounds. This was the first time an arena was constructed for one single fight. The attendance was 15,760. John L. Sullivan, Bob Fitzsimmons Tommy Burns, Tom Sharkey, Jake Kilrain, Sam Langford, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien and Abe Attell were introduced to the crowd. Gunboat Smith said Johnson “could have knocked him out in the first round if he wanted to.” 👑🐐🥊

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