Who Was The First Heavyweight Champion To Defend His Title Against A Black Opponent?

Tommy Burns!

Tommy Burns (born Noah Brusso; June 17, 1881 – May 10, 1955) was a Canadian professional boxer. He is the only Canadian-born World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. The first to travel the globe in defending his title, Burns made 13 title defenses against 11 different boxers, despite often being the underdog due to his size. Burns famously challenged all comers as Heavyweight Champion, leading to a celebrated bout with the American Jack Johnson.[1] According to his biographer, Burns insisted, “I will defend my title against all comers, none barred. By this I mean white, black, Mexican, Indian, or any other nationality. I propose to be the champion of the world, not the white, or the Canadian, or the American. If I am not the best man in the heavyweight division, I don’t want the title.”

Burns was the first heavyweight champion to fight with a Jewish challenger, defeating Joseph “Jewey” Smith in a fight staged in Paris. He also fought a bout with a Native American on his way to the Championship. According to one biography, he had two black sparring partners and was married for a brief time to a black woman. Burns, like other white boxers, had half a dozen contests with black boxers before his clash with the legendary Jack Johnson.[citation needed]

After starting his boxing career under his real name, in 1904 Brusso took the Scottish-sounding name of Tommy Burns. He was 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and about 175 pounds (79 kg), but his relatively small size did not stop him from becoming the world heavyweight boxing champion. When Burns met Marvin Hart for the heavyweight championship of the world in Los Angeles on February 23, 1906, Burns was a 2-1 underdog and the betting was 10-7 that he would not last ten rounds. Burns won a 20-round decision and went on to defend his title eleven times within a period of less than three years.

All previous gloved world champs had been European-American U.S. citizens (except for Robert Fitzsimmons, of the United Kingdom and New Zealand), who defended their titles only against other white opponents (although Fitzsimmons fought Jack Johnson after losing the title). Burns travelled the globe, beating the champions of England, Ireland, France and Australia. He was the first heavyweight champion to fight with a Jewish challenger, defeating British boxer Joseph “Jewey” Smith, in a 1908 bout held in Paris. He also fought a bout with a Native American and won.

Burns once defended his title twice in one night, although some historians refuse to accept those wins as title defences, insisting they were exhibition bouts. But in newspapers at the time, they were advertised as heavyweight title fights. If those defences are counted in his record, he successfully defended his title 13 times.Burns (left) during a sparring session

In December 1908, Burns agreed to a bout with Jack Johnson, becoming the first fighter to agree to a heavyweight championship bout with an African American. Burns lost his title in the match held in Sydney. He had refused to fight Johnson until Australian promoter Hugh D. McIntosh paid him $30,000 for the fight (Johnson received $5,000).[3] Burns was rumoured to be suffering from the effects from jaundice or influenza, and weighed in at 168 pounds (76 kg)—15 pounds (6.8 kg) lighter than his previous fight, and well below Johnson’s 192 pounds (87 kg). The fight lasted fourteen rounds before being stopped by the police. Burns later claimed the disruption was due to spectators’ concern he had a broken jaw. He also stated numerous right uppercuts from Johnson led to swelling on his face and the request to stop the fight.[4] Referee Hugh McIntosh awarded the decision and the title to Johnson.

In a filmed interview, Burns ranked Johnson as the second-best boxer up to his time, after James J. Jeffries. Johnson defeated Jeffries in 1910 when Jeffries, who hadn’t fought for six years, came out of retirement to fight. It is said that Jeffries was grossly out-of-shape and had lost much of his muscle. In 1909 in Vancouver, B.C., Johnson told a crowd of people that Burns deserved credit as the only white heavyweight who ever gave a black man a chance to win the title. He said, “Let me say of Mr. Burns, a Canadian and one of yourselves, that he has done what no one else ever did, he gave a black man a chance for the championship. He was beaten, but he was game.”[citation needed]

Burns continued to box occasionally after dropping the title. During the Great War he joined the Canadian army, serving as a physical fitness instructor for troops in Canada. In 1920, and a month after his 39th birthday, Burns challenged British champion Joe Beckett. Burns was stopped in the seventh round when, after suffering two knockdowns, his corner threw in the towel to end the fight.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Burns_(Canadian_boxer)

About herculesking 608 Articles
Working to get better every day.

69 Comments

  1. Help! I just want to find out about retiring. I turn 65 March 16 but have to work till May 31 to get my 5 years in. I have tried numerous times to get through to HR. Need to find out about different plans plus health ins & ss. Aubine Minor Beatrix

  2. I just could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts Deedee Vidovic Voletta

  3. Now curiosity you explained immediate Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum standard dummy lorem Ipsum is simply dummy. Jeanette Chaim Ita

  4. I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers Verile Ray Boor

  5. Sed facilisis nibh eu lobortis consequat. Mauris et velit molestie, auctor eros suscipit, tempor vela neque, hendrerit vel pulvinar ut, ornare nec sapien. Suspendisse bibendum id molestie felis eget. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, est te posidonium omittantur, eu eum noster alienum graecis vix. Sisely Pincas Rollo

  6. Learning curve hypotheses prototype early adopters focus channels direct mailing business-to-business vesting period. Equity seed round funding advisor partnership vesting period channels niche market social media business plan long tail. Startup deployment partner network holy grail pivot bootstrapping product management accelerator virality churn rate business-to-consumer network effects seed round. Influencer client startup. Prudi Robinet Coumas

  7. Go to Pure CBD Selection for the best pure cbd oil. You can buy pure cbd oil that is full spectrum or broad spectrum. Make sure to sign up for there newsletter to receive a free coupon code. Patti Lothaire Wurst

  8. Thank you for every other informative blog.
    Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect
    method? I’ve a project that I am simply now working on, and
    I have been at the glance out for such info.

  9. I have to admit that overall Im really impressed with this particular site.It is easy to observe that youre enthusiastic about your writing. If only I had your writing ability I anticipate more updates and you will be returning.

  10. We just couldnt leave your website before saying that we really enjoyed the useful information you offer to your visitors Will be back soon to check up on new stuff you post!

Comments are closed.