On this day in history...

The revival of the BNP thread reminded me of the following interesting fact. I knew that it was ironically on Boxing day, but didn't realise until I was checking my facts but it is exactly 100 years ago TODAY that it happened:

Jack Johnson became the FIRST black boxer to win the world heavyweight title in a match held in Sydney.

When news reached America the Ku Klux Klan went on the rampage. In 1910 Gentleman Jim (Jeffries) was lured out of retirement with the promise of $101,000 if he challenged the black champ. Gentleman (lol) Jim was quoted "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro".

The crowd (backed by a band) chanted racist chants. Jim lost! sparking race riots in which 3 black people were killed. Ironically, this fight was held on July 4th. Those Americans eh!

When he did eventually get beat, it was in the 26th round of a 45 round fight.

I must add that he was also a wife beater, the bastard. His first wife committed suicide to escape the brute.

How long was a round back then?

Fook me, I bet those fights were messy by the later rounds!

Just found another weird co-incidence. Whilst in prison he patented a design for a wrench:

http://inventors.about.com/od/wstartinventions/ss/wrench_2.htm

I received the latest patented wrench (by Black & decker) for Christmas!!!

There are most definitely forces at work, which we do not understand.

Well, i have learned something today.

I thought this was going to be a prescient thread : " On this day in history..." Jan Poortvliet had his last match as Southampton manager.

... The start of Saints decline began. Having woken up 4th in the Prem, we were beatten 2-0 away by Fulham. We've been sliding down the Leagues ever since.

The revival of the BNP thread reminded me of the following interesting fact. I knew that it was ironically on Boxing day, but didn't realise until I was checking my facts but it is exactly 100 years ago TODAY that it happened:

 

Jack Johnson became the FIRST black boxer to win the world heavyweight title in a match held in Sydney.

 

When news reached America the Ku Klux Klan went on the rampage. In 1910 Gentleman Jim (Jeffries) was lured out of retirement with the promise of $101,000 if he challenged the black champ. Gentleman (lol) Jim was quoted "I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro".

The crowd (backed by a band) chanted racist chants. Jim lost! sparking race riots in which 3 black people were killed. Ironically, this fight was held on July 4th. Those Americans eh!

 

When he did eventually get beat, it was in the 26th round of a 45 round fight.

 

I must add that he was also a wife beater, the bastard. His first wife committed suicide to escape the brute.

I read "Unforgivable Blackness" a couple of years ago and it's a biography of Johnson. He really should have been heavyweight champion long before he did but many white fighters refused to box him. As social history it's pretty good too - he couldn't travel across state lines with a white woman. It's true he's a flawed character but he was also someone who stuck two fingers up to the establishment and did exactly as he pleased despite the massive prejudice he faced.

Incidentally by the time he fought for the title Jefferies was a washed up drunk who needed the money - he wouldn't fight Johnson in his prime because he (Johnson) was a negro.