Boxing: Jack Johnson. V Tommy Burns

Jack Johnson. Vs. Tommy Burns, fight report:This was my A-Level English coursework; and I thought it would make a good article on the blog. Plus it may introduce some readers to a largley forgotten American Boxer: Jack Johnson. Who was really an older version of Muhhamad Ali.


Jack Johnson.

ON the 26^th of December 1908; Boxing day truly became boxing day. It was a momentous occasion as a new heavyweight king ascended to the prestigious throne, and claimed their place amongst divine fighters: Langford, Jefferies and Corbett.

What made this occasion more significant was that the new champion was black. The first black heavyweight champion of the world – Jack Johnson.

Jack Johnson, born in 1878 to former slave parents, had been fighting since he was twelve years old; mainly bare-knuckle and for very little money, but enough to capture the attention of his now friend Joe Choynski – who noted ‘ A man like Johnson should never have to take a punch’. Chonyski, 40, helped turn Johnson professional after their 1901 bout. Johnson would soon ascend to the Heavyweight crown.

For as many as four years, a title shot eluded Johnson, he beat contender after contender, but a title shot would never arrive. His race was what was holding back any chance of a title shot.  Former heavyweight champion – James J. Jefferies spoke of Johnson in poor regard, ‘As long as I live the heavyweight crown will never fall into the hands of an African-American’ he said to the press in 1906.

But with Jefferies’ retirement in 1906, a new heavyweight champion was crowned – Tommy Burns.  A hope emerged for Jack Johnson. A ray of hope that would cause controversy around the United States, but provide hope for the African-American nation.

Tommy Burns for the next two years would tour the world, fighting exhibitions: in London, Australia and France, and Johnson would follow. The media began to criticise Tommy Burns for ‘ducking’ Jack Johnson’s efforts to push a fight through. Johnson would buy ringside tickets to all of the champion’s fights, and he would regularly taunt the champion.


An interested Australian entrepreneur was watching the situation closely. Hugh McIntosh offered an astronomical sum of 7,500$ to the Champion if he would fight Johnson. The challenge was finally accepted.

December the 26^th 1908, 20,000 people flood into Rushcutters Bay to see the first mixed race title bout. The atmosphere was electric. Heart pounding. The white bigoted journalists had labelled Burns as the ‘Great white hope’ , and expected nothing more than a flawless victory for the Canadian.

Finally at 2:50pm, Jack Johnson entered the ring to a warm reception, sporting a fine white robe, standing 6ft1; five inches taller than his opponent.

Johnson’s goal was to dominate the fight from start to finish. He did just that. Johnson knocked down the Champion within a few minutes with a thunderous right hand. The Orthodox fighter was in a hungry mood. Burns was down for the count of eight, but eventually rose.

This sadly was the pattern of the fight. Johnson dominated, and even the most bloodthirsty fight fanatics, called for the fight to be stopped. Round 14. Johnson opened a barrage of attacks; the experienced 30 year old, attacked Burns with uppercuts, haymakers and anchor punches. The fight was stopped as the helpless Burns, fell like a tree in the forest.

The camera’s stopped rolling as the Champion hit the canvas; a bittersweet feeling engulfed the Rushcutters bay. The bigoted racists faces turned sour. The Galveston Giant, at 30 years of age, had proved to the world: a black man could win the most prestigious throne in the world.

Jack Johnson, beat challenger after challenger, until 1915, when his reign ended untimely, thanks to Jess Willard.

If had not been for Jack Johnson; we may never of seen the Joe Louis’ or Muhammad Ali’s of boxing. Jack Johnson, was a loafed figure back in the 1900's, and sadly died in 1947 in a car crash, after being turned away from a restaurant due to his skin colour.

Thanks, for reading; I hope you found this article a nice change and more original. I also hope to have introduced Jack Johnson to a new lot of people; 105 years after the title fight! If you found it that intresting that you would like to learn more then go to Youtube and type in- The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson; it is a two part documentry taking you through the details of his life. Worth a watch, if you have a few hours to kill.
Email: Ryan.Rowley@live.co.uk
Twitter: RyanRowley23