An autographed display of Jack Johnson the first black World Heavyweight Boxing Champion between 1908 and 1915, on a light green page removed from an

An autographed display of Jack Johnson the first black World Heavyweight Boxing Champion between 1908 and 1915, on a light green page removed from an autograph album, in pencil and inscribed 'former champ,' mounted beneath a b&w photograph from The Ring, mounted, framed & glazed, 46 by 30.5cm., 18 by 12in.; sold with an autograph dealer's COA (2) The 'Galveston Giant' Jack Johnson famously became the first black world heavyweight champion in 1908 defeating Canada's Tommy Burns. Racial animosity ran so deep among whites that author Jack London famously called out for a 'Great White Hope' to take away the title from Johnson. A number of these bouts followed but none more famous than the so-called 'Fight of the Century' between Johnson and James L. Jeffries (see previous lot) who came out of a six year retirement with the words ''I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a negro.'' The fight took place on 4th July 1910 in Reno, Nevada. Jeffries people pulled him out in the 15th round after Johnson had knocked him down twice. Jeffries defeat triggered race riots that evening all across the United States, with many whites feeling humiliated at the defeat of their 'great hope.' Many blacks, on the other hand, were jubilant, and strove to use the victory for racial advancement. Johnson finally lost his world crown in 1915 at the hands of Jess Willard (see next lot).