Meet The First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Meet The First Black Heavyweight Boxing Champion

The Fourth of July is all about celebrating freedom, with some room, of course, for firing up the grill and enjoying some competition.

Jack Johnson's 'Fight Of The Century' on 04/07/1910 (106 years ago)

Boxer Jack Johnson was born in Galveston, Texas, in 1878

Johnson, the heavyweight champion of the world and son of a slave, defeats retired former champion Jim Jeffries in a fight that exposes America's racial tensions.

After San Francisco declines to host the fight, Reno hastily rushes to build a stadium specifically for the bout.

Though Jeffries has slipped out of shape in retirement and Johnson is the world champion, the betting lines favor the ex-champ.

Johnson proves the doubters wrong with a 15th-round knockout, leading blacks around the country to rejoice. However, many are beaten by angry whites in one of the uglier Independence Day moments.