Jack Johnson
”L’il Artha”

Johnson is rated as possibly the best heavyweight who ever fought; He was a master on defense and almost flawless in all other aspects of pugilism; He was fast, possessed an outstanding jab and uppercut, and was practically impossible to hit cleanly

Nat Fleischer ranked Johnson as the #1 All-Time Heavyweight, Charley Rose ranked him as the #2 All-Time Heavyweight, and Herb Goldman ranked him the #4 All-Time Heavyweight; Johnson was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990

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BORN : March 31 1878; Galveston, Texas
DIED : June 10 1946; Raleigh, North Carolina
HEIGHT : 6-0 1/4
WEIGHT : 185-221 lbs
RACE : Black
MANAGERS: Morris Hart, Johnny Connors, Alec McLean, Sam Fitzpatrick, Abe Arends, George Little, Tom Flanagan, Sig Hart

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Boxing Record

1894
 John Lee Galveston, Tx W 16
 
Undated (circa 1894-95)
 Dave Pierson  Galveston, Tx W
 Bob Thompson Galveston, Tx L 4
 
1896
 Cherokee Kansas City, Ks KO 
 Howard Pollar Galveston, Tx W
 
1897
 Jim Rocks Galveston, Tx KO 4
 Sam Smith Galveston, Tx W 10
 
1898
 Reddy Bremer Galveston, Tx KO 3
 Jim Cole Galveston, Tx W 4
  Henry Smith Galveston, Tx D 15
 
1899
Feb 11 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx D 7
Mar 17 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx WF 7
May 6 Klondike (John Haines) Chicago, Il LT 4
Dec 16 Pat Smith Galveston, Tx D 12
 
1900
Mar 7 John Lee Galveston, Tx W 15
Mar 20 Willie McNeal Galveston, Tx KO 15
Apr 6 Bob White Galveston, Tx  W 15
Apr 12 Charley Brooks Galveston, Tx KO 2
May 1 Jim Scanlan Galveston, Tx KO 7
May 6 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx KO 2
May 28 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx KO 7
Jun 12 Horace Miles Galveston, Tx KO 3
Jun 25 Klondike (John Haines) Galveston, Tx D 20
Oct George Lawler Galveston, Tx KO 10
Nov Josh Mills Memphis, Tn W 12
Dec 28 Klondike (John Haines) Memphis, Tn KO 14
 
1901
Feb 25 Joe Choynski Galveston, Tx LK 3
 -Both fighters were arrested after the fight
Mar 22 –Johnson and Choynski were released from jail 
 after each posted a $1,000 bond
Apr 26 Billy Stift Denver, Co D 10
Nov 4 Hank Griffin Bakersfield, Ca L 20
Dec 27 Hank Griffin Oakland, Ca D 15
 
1902
Feb 7 Dan Murphy Waterbury, Ct KO 10
Feb 22 Ed Johnson Galveston, Tx KO 4
Mar 7 Joe Kennedy Oakland, Ca KO 4
Apr 6 Bob White in California W 15
May 16 Jack Jeffries Los Angeles, Ca KO 5
May 26 Klondike (John Haines) Memphis, Tn KO 13
Jun 4 Billy Stift Chicago, Il D 10
Jun 20 Hank Griffin Los Angeles, Ca D 20
Jul 6 Hank Griffin in California D 20
Sep 3 “Mexican” Pete Everett Victor, Co W 20
Oct 21 Frank Childs Los Angeles, Ca TK 12
Oct 31 George Gardner San Francisco, Ca  W 20
Dec 4 Fred Russell Los Angeles, Ca WF 8
 
1903
Feb 3 “Denver” Ed Martin Los Angeles, Ca W 20
 -Colored Heavyweight Championship of the World
Feb 27 Sam McVey Los Angeles, Ca  W 20
 -Colored Heavyweight Championship of the World
Apr 16 John “Sandy” Ferguson Boston, Ma W 10
May 11 Joe Butler Philadelphia, Pa KO 3
Jul 31 John “Sandy” Ferguson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Oct 27 Sam McVey Los Angeles, Ca W 20
 -Colored Heavyweight Championship of the World
Dec 11 John “Sandy” Ferguson Colma, Ca W 20
 
1904
Feb 6 John “Sandy” Ferguson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Feb 16 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Apr 22 Sam McVey San Francisco, Ca KO 20
Jun 2 Frank Childs Chicago, Il W 6
Oct 18 “Denver” Ed Martin Los Angeles, Ca KO 2
Nov 1 Larry Temple in Pennsylvania ND 4
 
1905
Mar 28 Marvin Hart San Francisco, Ca L 20
Apr 25 Jim Jeffords Philadelphia, Pa KO 4
May 3 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa KO 4
May 9 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 3
May 9 Walter Johnson Philadelphia, Pa KO 3
May 19 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Jun 26 Jack Monroe Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 
Jul 13 Morris Harris Philadelphia, Pa KO 3
Jul 13 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Jul 18 John “Sandy” Ferguson Chelsea, Ma WF 7
Jul 24 Joe Grim Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Nov 25 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa LF 2
Dec 1 “Young” Peter Jackson Baltimore, Md W 12
Dec 2 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
 
1906
Jan 16 Joe Jeannette  New York, NY ND 3
Jan 26 Bob Kerns Topeka, Ks KO 1
Mar 14 Joe Jeannette Baltimore, Md W 15
Apr 19 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Wilkes-Barre, Pa KO 6
Apr 26 Sam Langford  Chelsea, Ma W 15
Jun 18 Charlie Haghey Gloucester, Pa KO 2
Sep 3 Billy Dunning Millinocket, Me D 10
Sep 20 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
Nov 8 Jim Jeffords  Lancaster, Pa ND 6
Nov 26 Joe Jeannette Portland, Me D 10
Dec 9 Joe Jeannette New York, NY W 3
 
1907
Jan 28 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Jan 29 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Jan 30 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Jan 31 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 1 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 4 Larry Foley Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 5 Mick Dunn Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 6 Bill Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 7 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 8 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 9 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3
Feb 19 Peter Felix Sydney, NSW, Aus KO 1
Feb 28 Starlight (Edward Rollins) Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 4
Feb 28 Syd Russell Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 4
 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Mar 1 Syd Russell Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 3
Mar 2 Dick Kernick Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 3
Mar 4 Bill Lang Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 9
Jul 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Philadelphia, Pa KO 2
Aug 28 Kid Cutler Reading, Pa KO 1
Sep 12 Sailor Burke Bridgeport, Ct ND 6
Nov 2 “Fireman” Jim Flynn San Francisco, Ca KO 11
 
1908
Jan 3 Joe Jeannette New York, NY D 3
Jun 11 Al McNamara Plymouth, Eng EX 4
Jul 31 Ben Taylor Plymouth, Eng KO 8
Dec 22 Larry Foley Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 4
Dec 26 Tommy Burns Sydney, NSW, Aus W 14 
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World;
 Police stopped the bout; The referee
 Awarded the decision 
 
1909
Mar 10 Victor McLaglen Vancouver, BC, Can EX 6
Apr Frank Moran Pittsburgh, Pa EX 4
May 19 “Philadelphia” Jack O’Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND 6
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Jun 15 George Byers Boston, Ma EX 3
Jun 30 Tony Ross Pittsburgh, Pa ND 6
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Aug 12 Kid Cutler Brooklyn, NY EX 
Sep 9 Al Kaufman  San Francisco, Ca ND 10
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Oct 16 Stanley Ketchel Colma, Ca KO 12
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Dec 1 Kid Cutler New York, NY  SCH 
Dec 1 Jack Hynan New York, NY SCH 
 -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;
 The outcomes are not known
1910
Jul Al Kaufman Reno, Nv EX 
Jul 4 Jim Jeffries  Reno, Nv KO 15
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Oct -Johnson raced automobiles at Coney Island, NY
 Against Barney Oldfield and lost two races
 
1911
Jan -Johnson married Etta Duryea
Sep 11 -Etta Duryea committed suicide
Oct 2 “Bombardier” Billy Wells London, Eng SCH 
 -This bout was scheduled but not held
 
1912
Mar 8 Frank Hoe Indianapolis, In EX 4
Jun 21 –Johnson was indicted for smuggling a diamond 
 necklace into the United States
Jul 4 “Fireman” Jim Flynn Las Vegas, NM WF 9
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Jul 11 –Johnson opened the Cafe de Champion in Chicago, Il
Oct 12 –Johnson was arrested for violating the "White Slave
 Traffic Act"
Dec 4 –Johnson married Lucille Cameron
 
1913
May 14 –Johnson was convicted in Chicago, Il of violating 
 the "White Slave Traffic Act" 
Jun 4 –Johnson was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 
 one year and one day plus a fine of $1,000
June -Johnson fled the United States while free with an
 Appeal pending
Oct -The "French Federation of Boxing Clubs" stripped 
 Johnson of the Heavyweight Championship but the 
 IBU refused to do so
 Urbach Paris, Fr EX 
 -This was a wrestling match; Johnson won;
 Falls: 2-0
Nov 28 Jimmy Esson Paris, Fr EX 
 -This was a wrestling match; Johnson lost;
 Falls: 2-0
Nov 28 Andre Sproul Paris, Fr EX 2
 -This was a match between a boxer (Johnson) and a
 wrestler (Sproul); Johndon knocked Sproul out;
 The contest turned into a riot
Dec 19 "Battling" Jim Johnson Paris, Fr D 10
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World;
 This bout was scheduled for 20 rounds but
 terminated after 10 rounds due to arm injury
 to Jack Johnson
 
 
1914
 
Mar 10 an unnamed opponent Gothenburg, Swe EX 
 -This was a wrestling match;
 Some sources call this man “G.H.”, a law student
Mar 10 Taumisto Gothenburg, Swe EX 
 -This was a wrestling match
Jun 27 Frank Moran Paris, Fr W 20
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World
Dec 15 Jack Murray Buenos Aires, Arg EX 3
 -Johnson knocked Murray out
 
1915
Jan 10 Segundo Guiralechea Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1
 -Johnson knocked Guiralecha out
Jan 10 Enrique Wilkinson Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1
 -Johnson knocked Wilkinson out
Jan 10 Jack Murray Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1
 -Johnson knocked Murray out
Apr Mills Havana, Cu EX 
Apr Scott Havana, Cu EX 
Apr Bell Havana, Cu EX 
Apr 3 Sam McVey Havana, Cu EX 6
Apr 5 Jess Willard Havana, Cu LK 26
 -Heavyweight Championship of the World;
 
1916
Mar 10 Frank Crozier Madrid, Sp W 10
Mar 25 Arthur Gruhan Madrid, Sp W 10
Jul 10 Arthur Cravan Barcelona, Sp KO 6
 
1918
Apr 3 Blink McCloskey Madrid, Sp W 4
 
1919
Feb 12 Bill Flint Madrid, Sp KO 2
Apr 7 Tom Cowler Mexico City, Mx D 10
Jun 2 Tom Cowler Mexico City, Mx KO 12
Jul 4 Paul Sampson Mexico City, Mx KO 6
Aug 10 Marty Cutler Mexico City, Mx KO 4
Sep 28 Bob Roper Mexico City, Mx W 10
 
*** Dates and results of the bouts in Mexico are still 
 being researched
 
1920
Apr 18 Bob Wilson Mexicali, Mx KO 3
Apr 21 Ray Neal Tijuana, Mx EX 4
May 17 George Roberts Tijuana, Mx KO 3
Jul 20 -Johnson crossed the border into the United States 
 from Mexico and surrendered to Federal agents; He 
 is sent to Leavenworth prison
Nov 25 Frank Owens Leavenworth, Ks KO 6
Nov 25 "Topeka" Jack Johnson Leavenworth, Ks W 5
Nov 30 George Owens Leavenworth, Ks KO 6
 
1921
Apr 15 Jack Townsend Leavenworth, Ks KO 6
May 28 John Allen Leavenworth, Ks EX 2
May 28 Joe Boykin Leavenworth, Ks KO 5
Jul 9 -Johnson was released from Leavenworth Prison
 
1923
May 6 Walter “Farmer” Lodge Havana, Cu KO 4
May 20 Jack Thompson Havana, Cu ND 15
Sep Battling Siki Montreal, Que, Can EX 6
Sep Silas Green Montreal, Que, Can EX 2
Oct 1 Battling Siki Quebec, Que, Can EX 6
Oct Battling Siki Sherbrooke, Que, Can EX 
 -This bout was held during Sep-Oct 1923
Oct Jack Ward in New England, USA EX 4
 -This bout was held during Sep-Oct 1923
 
1924
Feb 22 Homer Smith  Montreal, Que, Can W 10
Aug James “Tut” Jackson Hammond, In SCH 
 -This bout was scheduled but not held;
 The Governor of Indiana (Branch) prevented 
 the bout from being held
Sep Brad Simmons Drumright, Ok SCH 
 -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known
 
 -Johnson divorced Lucille Cameron during 1924
 
1925
Aug -Johnson married Irene Pineau
 
1926
May 2 Pat Lester Nogales, Mx W 15
May 30 Bob Lawson Juarez, Mx LT 8
Jun Battling Norfolk L 10
Sep 6 Brad Simmons Ponca City, Ok L 10
 
1927
 "Big" Bill Hartwell  EX 4
 
1928
Apr 16 Ed "Bearcat" Wright Topeka, Ks LK 5
May 15 "Big" Bill Hartwell Kansas City, Ks LT 7
 Isaac "Ike" McFowler EX 6
 
1930
 “Philadelphia” Jack O’Brien EX 3
 
1931
Mar 4 Brad Simmons Tulsa, Ok L 10
Apr 28 Brad Simmons Wichita, Ks KO 2
Apr 30 -Johnson and Simmons were barred from boxing 
 in Topeka, Ks
 Chief White Horse EX 3
 Brad Simmons Tulsa, Ok EX 3
Jun 11 Dynamite Jackson Los Angeles, Ca EX 3
Jul 16 Dee Richmond Dishman, Id EX 3
Jul 18 Floyd Johnson Seattle, Wa EX 4 
 
1932
Nov 29 Dick Anderson Chicago, Il KO 3
 
1933
Jan 20 Maurice Griselle Paris, Fr EX 1
Jan 20 Ernst Guehring Paris, Fr EX 1
 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
 
1938
Sep 1 Walter Price Boston, Ma LT 7
 
1944
 Wilbur DeCora Ida Grove, Ia EX 2
 an unnamed opponent  Spencer City, Ia EX 2
 Henry Neumann Sioux City, Ia EX 2
 
1945
Nov 27 Joe Jeannette New York, NY EX 3
Nov 27 John Ballcort New York, NY EX 3
 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
 As part of a World War II Bond Rally; 
 One minute rounds were fought
 
**** Reports But Not Confirmed ***
 
1898
 Hank Griffin Bakersfield, Ca KO 65
 
1908-1910
 Edward “Gunboat” Smith Oakland, Ca EX 
 
1910
 Frank Moran Pittsburgh, Pa EX 4
 
1920
 Harry Cook EX 3
 
1924-1925
 Charles “Chuck” Wiggins Indianapolis, In EX 3
 -Some sources report 1919-1920
 
Master Index




The CyberboxingZone Journal Article on Johnson (Nov 2000)




 
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