"Boxing's Best - Jack Johnson" (Documentary)

this is the story of a proud and flamboyant man who was the first black boxer ever to win one of the most prestigious titles and sports between the years 1980 1915 he ruled the heavyweight division as no man had before him but at the turn of the 20th century his carefree lifestyle was despised by many of his fellow countrymen a cry for the great white hope echoed across the land as sports fans awaited his downfall today his legend lives on is one of the most controversial figures in the history of sports but he remains one of boxing's best Jack Johnson the story of Jack Johnson and now from New York City here is your host Barry Tompkins hello everybody I'm Barry Tompkins and welcome to boxing's best this is the story of boxing's first black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson was born in 1878 of parents who were slaves he was born in Galveston Texas but left home at the age of 12 to work he worked for a while as a sponge fisherman he was a painter he was a potato peeler he worked on the docks that started fighting at the age of 13 he had his first professional fight at the age of 16 years here the city of New York which was one day to be his home was still thousands of miles away and years to come Jimmy Jacob says boxing's pre-eminent historian Jimmy I think it's safe to say that Jack Johnson came along much too soon and perhaps generations ahead of his time I would say so Barry actually Jack Johnson was a half a century ahead of his time he was the first fighter who fought about self preservation when he got into the ring in fact all of the films of all of the fighters around the turn of the century the fighters actually impaled their face on the other man's gloves in order to get their own punches in Jack Johnson was absolutely unique he fought for three decades and when he was through fighting at a very old age if your life depended on it you couldn't you could not determine that he was a professional fighter that was really something Jimmy what was the reaction of the American public to a black man who was coming along and having an eminence in a sport I'm a sport at that time well in 1907 1906 when Jack Johnson was demonstrating that he was the greatest heavyweight in the world at that time there had been five white heavyweight champions Sullivan Corbett Fitzsimmons Jeffries and Tommy Byrnes interestingly enough Jack Johnson had to chase Tommy Burns all over the world in order to get a shot at the heavyweight championship but at that time the public did not want a black man to be the heavyweight champion of the world and it was indeed a difficult task for Johnson to even get a fight for the World Championship it didn't stop at the government as a matter of hide it at the people it actually stopped all the way at the government to try to stop Jack Johnson from the heavyweight time well that's true when Johnson beat Burns in 1908 for the Heavyweight Championship and Jeffries came out of retirement in order to try to beat Johnson when they couldn't find a white heavyweight to beat Jack Johnson the government passed a law the Mann Act in order to get Jack Johnson he got the heavyweight championship back to the white race it was a 1905 the Jack Johnson started looking for Tommy Byrnes it was to be a three-year search he finally caught up at the mat all the way in Australia Jack Johnson chased heavyweight champion Tommy burns all over the world for the title he wanted so desperately Byrnes insisted on drawing the color line denying leading black contenders like Jack Johnson joe jeanette and sam langford a shot at the title but wherever Tommy Burns went Jack Johnson would follow Johnson and his manager Sam Fitzpatrick borrowed thousands of dollars and pursued the champion in France England and then finally back in Sydney Australia while Byrnes was fighting less competitive European and Australian contenders Jack Johnson was defeating the likes of former champion Bob Fitzsimmons Tommy Byrnes had won the title by decisioning Marvin Hart in 1906 it was Hart who claimed the vacated heavyweight title when James J Jeffries announced his retirement in 1905 Jack Johnson had issued public challenges to all three champions in each case he was ignored finally in 1908 after seeing both Byrnes and Johnson in action some English reporters wrote that Johnson was Byrnes master Jack Johnson was ecstatic over the public pressure and Tommy Byrnes was visibly upset the champion tried eluding jack by heading for France and then Australia but Jack Johnson followed him everywhere promoting you McIntosh guaranteed Byrnes $30,000 while Jack Johnson received five thousand for the first time in history a black man was fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world this was not just a fighter Jack Johnson had the opportunity to gain dignity for an entire race that was still living in the aftermath of the civil war December 26 1908 rush cutters Bey at one o'clock in the afternoon Raun 126 thousand fans hold their breath Burns is defending for the 12th time at six feet one and 212 pounds Johnson is lean hard Master Craftsmen who loves to set his own pace Bern's looks for an opening but is tied up the Challenger moves the champion around at will the man in the white suit the Lord are you Macintosh the press knows this will be a long afternoon by round 8 Johnson is having the time of his life a tired burns answers the bell for round 14 now Johnson pours it on lips right hooks uppercuts burns is defenseless the police shut off the cameras and stop the fight afterwards famous novelist Jack London was covering the fight for the New York Herald wrote the Jim Jeffries was the only man who could defeat Johnson and rescue the white race the words which were used to describe the outcome embodied the deep-seated racial tensions of the day Jack Johnson had accomplished what no black man had before him but even though he was a hero among his own people the white American public eagerly awaited his downfall so after for no decisions in an exhibition fight there was a chance for a little bit more money and a little bit more show business a fight with a popular middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel there was a lot of money up for grabs because there was a film up for grabs it happened on October 16th 1909 in Colma California Jack Johnson's first heavyweight title defense was against middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel Johnson wanted to fight undefeated former champion James J Jeffries but through 1909 the great white hope remained retired the press also criticized Jack for not defending against black contender sam langford they felt that Johnson was now giving Langford the same treatment Byrnes and Jeffries had given him with this controversial backdrop Jack Johnson readied himself for Stanley Ketchel the champion outweighed the Challenger 535 pounds Stanley Ketchel posed at the signing wearing an oversized padded coat and five-inch heels on his cowboy boots to diminish the size difference but Jack Johnson could not be fooled the champion had apparently agreed to one condition set by quetzals manager Willis break it was the jack would carry the Michigan assassin for 20 rounds to protect Stanley's reputation as middleweight champion even though Johnson consented to do so Ketchel made one crucial mistake the heavyweight champion of the world was unable to keep the agreement October 16th 1909 rumor has it that Johnson will carry Ketchum to make it look good for the cameras the first suspicion of a fix in Jack Johnson's career but not the last when Ketchel appears in the ring - shoulder pads and cowboy boots the physical differences are startling the correlation of glows and Kitchell goes down by round nine Ketchel is exhausting courage raw courage keeps him on his feet guess whose face begins to show blood Johnson stands off and flex stinging left jabs tential looks for that one punch johnson's test fax my while left and then ties up the challenge - whispering Quechua still putting up a fight as they wait for round 12 Getchell throws an overhand right and Johnson goes down never has a heavyweight championship fight ended with such sudden turnaround when a reporter asked Jack Johnson how he felt when Stanley had dropped him to the canvas he said far better than Ketchel did 30 seconds later he crossed me and I made him pay for it Willis Britt ketches manager died shortly after the fight overcome by the tragedy which had befallen his fighter Jack Johnson later said he feared that the punch landed hard enough to kill the middleweight champion instead it was disclosed that all of Stanley Ketchel upper and lower teeth were snapped at the roots if you look closely you can see Jack Johnson wiped two of quetzals teeth from his glove with one powerful right Jack Johnson had sent a message to James J Jeffries he was ready for any great white hope game enough to step through the ropes the battle of the century had become inevitable James J Jeffries was urged by Jack London and many others to come out of retirement to regain the Heavyweight Championship for the white race it was five long years since James J Jeffries had been enacted prizefighter in 1904 he had scored a second-round knockout of Jack Monroe by 1910 he was working on his farm having ballooned in weight to 320 pounds he retired in 1905 as an unbeaten heavyweight champion and at the age of 35 it was felt that only the fabled Boilermaker from California could rescue the crown from Jack Johnson James Jeffries had to keep a vibrant sense of humor to combat the obvious public pressure the ex champions victory over Bob Fitzsimmons in 1899 to capture the heavyweight championship and is convincing knockout a former champion James J Corbett in 1900 were only memories the great white hope had a long battle to endure the fight of the century was masterminded by professional gambler Tex Rickard he outbid six prospective promoters by guaranteeing both fighters a total purse of $170,000 Rickard tried to stage the fight in California but governor Gillette threatened to call in the militia if any further efforts were made both Jack Johnson and James Jeffries were given the $10,000 bonus by Tex Rickard and to induce the fighters to accept his bid he placed $20,000 in gold pieces on the table Rickard wanted to stage the official signing in the Hotel Albany in New York for maximum press exposure but when police Commissioner Baker threatened arrest the site was moved across the river to a hotel in Hoboken New Jersey originally the winner's share was set at 75 percent of the total purse but then James Jeffries insisted on a 60/40 split Johnson's final take amounted to $120,000 an astronomical figure in 1910 Richard went to his home state of Nevada Reno businessmen aided in constructing a suitable arena for the fight so both fighters set up training camps in nearby areas Jefferies built a handball court in order to shed 90 pounds within six months an overweight ex-champion had to be transformed into a viable contender early on James Jeffries was made the favorite by professional gamblers and boxing experts ex champion James Corbett was brought in to work with Jefferies and after a series of brutal workouts witnessed by an adoring public and mrs. James Jefferies the ex-champion readied himself for the Battle of the century the entire country was mesmerized by the desire of one man who earned the now-infamous title the great white hope reports were surfacing the jack was in the best shape of his ring career it was repeatedly stated that Jack Johnson was seeking sweet revenge for the many years that Jeffries had denied him a title shot the press build-up was as spectacular as any in the history of sports ring all sporting fans rushed Torrio even the amphitheater made of yellow pine has been carted over the mountains from California it's as if some gigantic Greek drama is about to unfold poor Johnson it is the final lap he spars with veteran al Kaufman but there is a time for work and a time for clay as July approaches Reno becomes the hub of the universe the Johnson cloth and placed two bunch of thirst you place it back the high below panel at aureus descend on winner on the day before the fight a thousand of a faithful pay to see Jefferies Train reporters flocked to Jeffrey's camp the New York Times correspondent none other than John L Sullivan the bulky man on the right sullivan spars with gentleman Jim Corbett in the cause of solidarity all must be forgiven so lends a 17-year feud between these legendary figures on the day of the fight trains arrive every half hour I Society comes in private cars lending a touch of elegans rare on the Prairie I'll complete seller and precisely three minutes to one Jack Johnson makes his way to the way Johnson is always the first to enter so seriously does he take this ritual that it's written into his contract the nation comes to a standstill as cameras grind away all roar goes up Oh Jeffrey crowd goes wild this is a new age of instant communication for the first time heaven round by round account relate across country by calligraphers team Brown 145 Rose the Battle of the century the action is tentative cautious two champions one old and copse out of retirement of cleaned as the great white hope the other outspoken man who was aroused the nation the third man is Tex Rickard impresario extraordinaire while outside hundreds unable to buy tickets await the outcome Jefferies bears the reputation of being the strongest man everything in the way and Geoffrey Spooner Corbett yells one to Jeff one to around 7:00 Jeffries is beginning to show frustration each time he launches an attack Johnson quickly stifles it have his frustration is compounded by Johnson's taunts is all on film for the world to see I overhead a Desert Sun scorches the camels the temperatures rising and so our tempers for round 15 a vicious uppercut unpretty stainless life's gasping against the law it is as if a moment in time has stopped alright Africa three quick laps get up Johnson moves in but Rickard waves him off slowly Jefferies Rises Johnson unloads a thunderous left and Jeffries goes through rules as Jeffries is helpless people Johnson moves in the finisher Jeffery's finally collapses Johnson's stunning went over Jeffrey's signified much more than a heavyweight championship it was the cause of an outbreak of racial violence across the country Jack Johnson was living in an era which was finding it difficult to accept a black heavyweight champion the memories of that day are buried amongst the scrap metal of what is now a junkyard on the original site of the fight here at forth and to 1o streets in Reno all that's left to commemorate that event is a rather nondescript plaque that goes largely unnoticed on a busy street to busy your time but Howard on that night fourth and tawan o streets had a volatile reaction not only here in Reno but in fact all across the country there was an extremely Vault reaction across the country there were shootings they were race riots there were many deaths there were many injuries here the atmosphere was as if an execution at taking place people slunk away among the Slinker is were pickpockets who left behind them on the street Ken Watchers they kept the gold and silver watches which they had taken to the fight with the Tim watches they discarded worthless and that was the scrap metal after the fight of July 4th 1910 the conversation goes on Howard that Jack Johnson was being victimized by the government and to that end a law was enacted after the Johnson Jeffries fight here that disallowed the interstate transportation of the film of the fight so it not only made Jack Johnson a non-person and made the fight a con event it was a pathetic attempt to do that they didn't want that fight that knocked down that knockout to be seen by by the mass of America everyone knew that it had taken place but the existence of it on film I think it was Congress water it forbidden to be shown and the legal maneuverings didn't end there region down there at all in fact six or eight northern states had bills proposed in their houses of legislature two four interracial marriages this is a direct response to Johnson's victory and his liaisons with white women how did Jack Johnson react to all of this himself as a person how did the man react oblivious thing as if none of it had happened he went on to Chicago to open his cafe to Champaign and he did that and he partied and he did some performances but what he did not do was fight for two years to the day until a fight in Las Vegas New Mexico against someone named fireman Jim Flynn it had been two long years since Jack Johnson had defended his crown fireman Jim Flynn was knocked out by the champion in 1907 but he represented the latest white hole promoter Jack Curley guaranteed Jack Johnson $30,000 for his fourth title defense but clearly this was not the same man who defeated James Jeffries in 1910 Jack was out of shape life had become a non-stop party during his lay off a group of clergymen prosecutors and detectives began working with the grand jury to scrutinize his private life jack was told he was being investigated but he made no effort to change his free-and-easy lifestyle his white wife Etta Duryea lived with the miseries of public rejection it was a difficult time for the heavyweight champion Jack Johnson and fireman Jim Flynn converged on Las Vegas New Mexico in the summer of 1912 because of the recent ban on the transport of fight films promoted Jack Curley had troubled finding a crew to record the fight even with a two-year drought boxing fans were not starving for a fight between an out-of-shape champion and a lightly regarded challenger only 5,000 people came to the arena but thankfully local authorities relented and permitted Jack Curley to film the bout on July 4th 1912 Jack Johnson returned to the rig round one promoter Curley has found someone to man his camera July 4th 1912 exactly two years since Johnson sent Jim Jefferies into oblivion but time hasn't dulled his ringing [ __ ] give Johnson an audience even a sparse one and he rises to the occasion Ladd places him Johnson lands rapier punches on me for tender to his throne what is completely demoralized skeptics might find it hard to believe at the same gym Flynn five years later will flatten Jack Dempsey in a single round exasperated and determined to do damage Flynn leaves his feet and propels his head under the changes King the referee has words with the Challenger now the referee is exasperated we're using Marquess of Queensbury rules the referee cautions I want both of you know part of the rule round nine there is no let-up one is still using his hand and Johnson his defensive skills again when goes into a strange choreography this time the referee has much turnover what's this a fourth man enters the ring it's the sheriff who lost the proceeding so once again Jack Johnson wins by police intervention after the fight when Jack returned home to Chicago his wife Etta suddenly committed suicide then in November of 1912 Jack Johnson was put under federal indictment on the grounds that he transported a white woman miss Belle Schreiber across several state lines this violation of the Mann Act of 1910 was passed in Congress to crack down on prostitution and for four days the heavyweight champion of the world was in jail when he got out unveil he had a jail sentence hanging over his head Jack Johnson continued to defy the Reformers he married another white woman Lucile Cameron almost guaranteeing a stiff jail term within four months Jack Johnson was on trial in May of 1913 Jack Johnson was found guilty of violating the Mann Act and sentenced to one year in one day in a Joliet Illinois penitentiary he was also fined $1,000 Jack was terribly bitter and he decided to jump bail when he left the United States with his wife Lucille he promised it would be forever the champion traveled to Canada France and finally England as the world's most famous fugitive Jack Johnson was still the heavyweight champion of the world but at this time in his life he was a man without a country finally Howard there was a fight made with Jess Willard a challenger whom the white community deemed had a pretty good chance to beat Jack Johnson would not embarrass them and even then there was controversy surrounding the fight there was some talk that perhaps a promise had been made to Jack Johnson that he would be pardoned if he tanked the fight Johnson himself arouses controversy by saying that he had been made such an offer if he threw the fight the fact of the matter is I'm sure the film's will bear out that he fought as hard as he could for 20 rounds he fought his heart out against this enormous white fight a very clumsy white fighter and and that he lost legitimately I think Johnson was unable to bear the idea of having his own followers his wife the people questioned think that he fought his heart out and lost so Jack Johnson was a loser Jess Willard was now the heavyweight champion of the world and there wasn't to be another black challenger for 22 years April 5th 1915 J onson was a 37 year old heavyweight champion promoter Jack Curley convinced him to fight Jess Willard Johnson had never even heard of this giant of a man this farmer from Kansas was 6 foot 6 inches tall and weighed 260 pounds Curley assured Jack that Willard posed no threat to the crown the site was Havana Cuba federal authorities threatened to take the champion into custody if he set foot in the u.s. Curley promised Jack they would be no interference from American marshals with a cloud of political controversy hanging over the champions head Jess Willard seemed even more of an insurmountable opponent the Challenger trained for Johnson is never before he was ready to go the full 45 rounds jack was out of shape he figured Willard to be yet another great white pretender Jack Johnson was guaranteed $30,000 and was told by Jack Curley that a possible pardon could be arranged if he agreed to his figure the champion demanded the money of the way in but Curley promised its delivery to his wife at ringside so as the Challenger departed for Mariano racetrack Jack Johnson pondered his future he knew he was unable to return to his country and as an ageing champion he had to anticipate a troublesome battle with Jess Willard by rail by car on foot a single destination oriental Park Racetrack so still morning hundreds of early birds storm the gate for choice seats Bat Masterson the real Bat Masterson once the fastest gun on the frontier tips his hat for ticket buyers camera crews get ready umbrellas are already opened to guard against the Caribbean some hours before the fight the protagonists are introduced Jess Willard looks like an overgrown country boy in his Sunday best Jack Johnson a figure of continental elegance the governor of havana is given a place of honor in a shaded grandstand two hours later a roar goes up as the champion makes his way to the ring temperature 103 and rising at 37 Jack Johnson still clings to a superstition of being the first to enter the ring Johnson is shown where his wife is seated moment of truth appropriate the challengers strides down enters the rain almost an operation in dark pants jacket and pack a fighter's shake hands on the scale for the weigh-in well it looks tough and trim Johnson the legendary Jack Johnson no longer lean no longer the classic champion of Sydney Australia and Reno Nevada the ritual of the gloves first the Challenger and then the champion puts on his gloves April 5th 1915 from 145 rounds for the heavyweight championship of the world Johnson is calm he's been to the post before he sees an opening and goes to his man well it ties him up and pushes off Willard concentrates this is the man who sent Jeffrey's into oblivion the end of round one it is hot and getting cluttered I overhead the Cuban song glares relentlessly by round ten it becomes a bitter struggle each man trying to establish superiority Willard fences crochet till the showman Johnson spreads his gods but the Challenger ignores his cue the Lord is respectful Johnson is a man like no other way round 26 the Sun is insidious Jess Willard has the will to win raw muscle signal their discontent Johnson finds the stamina to launch an attack leaning pushing shoving holding on Willard sees Johnson's eyes they tell him now is the time the impossible had come true the search for the great white hope was over Jack Johnson had been dethroned a riot followed the fight delirious fans rejoiced over the new white heavyweight champion following the loss reliable advisors told Jack to head back to Europe fearing a prison term if he entered the u.s. then after several weeks Jack Johnson broke some startling news he claimed the fight was fixed a photograph was released of Jack apparently shading his eyes after the knockdown the ex-champion made an affidavit in which he accused Jack Curley of paying him to lay down between rounds 10 and 20 Johnson asserted that Willard's poor performance carried the fight in extra six rounds as evidence of the fix Johnson pointed to the fact that his wife left ringside after the 25th round he said a pre-arranged signal indicated the next round would be the last those in attendance felt Jack's story was a sham many experts felt Jack was making these declarations to get himself out of financial trouble public sentiment indicated that Jack Johnson had lost his title to the better fighter on that fateful day in 1915 we may never hear the true story Jack was resigned to a life of exile in England Spain and Mexico until July 20th 1920 when he surrendered to federal authorities in San Diego on September 13th Jack Johnson was ordered by Judge George carpenter to serve one year in one day in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth Kansas when he was released he received roaring welcomes in Chicago in New York but in the 20s the celebrated ex champion was resigned to the life of flea circuses and small-time vaudeville Jack Johnson was nothing more than a showpiece drifting into poverty but Jack Johnson was not desperate for self-esteem he still had the desire to speak in work for his country churchgoers black Improvement associations and even the Ku Klux Klan gathered to listen to the former heavyweight champion I want to say a few words in the god box yesterday I should not be here but I am here I want to do something good and out of doing that something good something will come good to me now then I am boxing a fellow here Joe Jeanette who some thirty five four four years ago Joe and I have some table scraps but even so far Vitus we retain our friendship 1945 Johnson is 67 Jeanette 71 a war bond rally is held in New York Jack Johnson now recognized as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time before Johnson was champion he fought Joe Jeannette nine times now a nostalgic reunion Jeanette never got a chance at the title Jack Johnson raised funds for a country which was his again when Jack spoke he would touch on religion squareness courage and successful living clearly he was not bitter over a less than glittering past Jack did not want to judge his own past actions or those who found fault with his controversial lifestyle he was merely trying to convey a sense of hope and understanding to those Americans living in a new era but even though Jack's thoughts and actions seemed to mellow in his later years he still had one severe shortcoming the ex-champion had built up an inner anger and arrogance over the years which he displayed whenever behind the wheel of a car On June 10th 1946 Jack Johnson crossed the border of North Carolina enroute to the Joe Lewis Billy Conn fight in New York traveling on us one Jack lost control of the car and it went off the shoulder of the road he turned to avoid an oncoming truck and instead crashed into a power pole he was rushed to Saint Agnes Hospital in Raleigh North Carolina where he died from internal injuries three hours later the world had lost the first black man ever to win the heavyweight title on June 14th thousands of blacks and whites stood outside the pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago mourning the loss inside the Reverend Junius Caesar Austin senior addressed the crowd of 2,500 Jack struck a double blow when he became heavyweight champion if we hadn't had a jack we wouldn't have a Joel Lewis now that statement was probably the best epitaph for a life that was constantly marred by supposed arrogance many people denounced and detested him but for many others Jack Johnson's career was a source of both pride and inspiration maybe he was a victim of the times but that's the price one must pay when you are the first black man ever to win the heavyweight championship of the world Jack Johnson his legend will live forever so the city of New York and in fact the boxing no longer have Jack Johnson to the line Jimmy Jacobs here we are 36 years later and after a play and a movie in a couple of books and all the other words that have been written and spoken about Jack Johnson it does seem that the man who started to get his place in boxing history I would say so very Jack Johnson unquestionably is one of the great heavyweight champions of all time and there is no doubt that around the turn of the century Jack Johnson was the greatest heavyweight champion of all time is there a comparison to a contemporary fighter at least in boxing style of not personality that can be made to Jack Johnson I would say the closest thing to Jack Johnson would have been Muhammad Ali both Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali attempted to get the job done without getting hurt without getting punched and that's why I believe that's a marvelous comparison between the two Jimmy comes now the catch-all question and the great scheme of things and you of course as we mentioned at the top of this program the preeminent boxing authority as far as the history of the sport where do you put Jack Johnson amongst the great champions Barry I would say that Jack Johnson certainly Jack Johnson was the greatest heavyweight champion in the first 20 years of this century each generation of boxers uses the accumulated knowledge of their predecessors as a jumping off point for further development so I would say that Jack Johnson of the 28 heavyweight champions we've had Jack Johnson would certainly be in the top three of all time it is of course the be all subjective question who was the greatest of all time it is a question that will be asked as long as the boxing world goes for Howard Sackler and Jimmy Jacobs I'm Barry Tompkins and we'll see you next time boxing's best League in the world for a reason more memorable moments from the Barclays Premier League coming next on ESPN Classic

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Views: 115,398

Rating: 4.7902622 out of 5

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Id: b9vZ3cY4-Aw

Length: 47min 24sec (2844 seconds)

Published: Sat Oct 22 2011