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First black fighter to gain acceptence with white fight fans
Posted: 28 Dec 2006, 11:58
by kick asner
I can remeber the old timers talking about Joe Louis and you would never hear a bad word about him even among some quite racist individuals. No matter how predjidiced the person they always seemed to defend Joe Louis. That would tell you something about how far the black fighter had come on his road to acceptence.
But now I am not claiming that Joe Louis would have been the first popular black fighter, just the most notable one. Perhaps their were some others before him who through their skill, or style, or charisma, or a combination of all of those traits were able to gain a measure of popularity.
Posted: 28 Dec 2006, 13:21
by Seamus
Panama Al Brown was popular in France a decade before Louis.
Posted: 28 Dec 2006, 13:31
by Ambling Alp
Going way back, Joe Gans and George Dixon were popular. Kid Chocolate was very popular as well.
Posted: 28 Dec 2006, 13:49
by kick asner
Question. If black fighters were popular that far back than why were so many black fighters denied a title shot throughout the twentyeth century?
re
Posted: 30 Dec 2006, 09:01
by barry
In the Queensberry era, George Dixon was probably the first colored fighter to gain a big following from all ethnic nationalities. Pre-Queensberry, Bill Richmond was widely respected by everyone.
Posted: 30 Dec 2006, 15:18
by silkov
Tiger Flowers was very popular in the 20s...
Re: White Fans Accepting Black Fighters
Posted: 31 Dec 2006, 01:46
by Chuck1052
A lot of white boxing fans liked Peter Jackson.
- Chuck Johnston
Posted: 31 Dec 2006, 14:28
by Andy Mac
kick asner wrote:Question. If black fighters were popular that far back than why were so many black fighters denied a title shot throughout the twentyeth century?
Because before the Marquess of Queensberry rules, and only one champion, it didn't really matter. Once boxing was officially organised and controlled, the whites just couldn't accept black domination.
Posted: 31 Dec 2006, 14:52
by silkov
Decagon wrote:silkov wrote:Tiger Flowers was very popular in the 20s...
Is he the one who did that little nip-up when he got knocked down? I remember reading about it. Also, a lot of Flowers's fame came from beating Greb twice.
Yes, he also used to do somersaults after winning fights... try getting hold of 'the pussycat of prizefighting' seems that Flowers death may have been foul play as well as his manager was up to his neck in debt and had Flowers house mortgaged in his own name...