Jack Johnson
(John Arthur Johnson)
(the "Galveston Giant")
BORN March 31 1878; Galveston, Texas DIED June 10 1946; Raleigh, North Carolina HEIGHT 6-0 1/4 WEIGHT 185-221 lbs MANAGERS Morris Hart, Johnny Connors, Alec McLean, Sam Fitzpatrick, Abe Arends, George Little, Tom Flanagan, Sig Hart 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; Herb Goldman ranked him the #4 All-Time Heavyweight; Johnson was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
Johnson Fight Video Clip (Burns, Ketchel, Jeffries, Flynn) Johnson-Burns 1908 Fight Video Clip Johnson-Ketchel 1909 Fight Video Clip Johnson-Ketchel 1909 Fight Video Clip (Longer Version; Clearer) Johnson-Jeffries 1910 Fight Video Clip Johnson-Moran 1914 Fight Video Clip Johnson Fight #2 Video Clip Johnson's Jazz Band (Press thebutton at the top of the screen to return)
1894John Lee Galveston, Tx W 16 -Some sources report "KO 15"Undated (circa 1894-95)Dave Pierson Galveston, Tx W 1895Apr 11 "Utah" Bob Thompson Galveston, Tx L 4-Some sources report 18991896Cherokee Kansas City, Ks KOHoward Pollar Galveston, Tx W1897Jim Rocks Galveston, Tx KO 4Sam Smith Galveston, Tx W 101898Reddy Bremer Galveston, Tx KO 3Jim Cole Galveston, Tx W 4Henry Smith Galveston, Tx D 151899Feb 11 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx D 7Mar 17 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx WF 7May 6 Klondike (John Haines) Chicago, Il LT 4Dec 16 Pat Smith Galveston, Tx D 121900Mar 7 John Lee Galveston, Tx W 15Mar 20 Willie McNeal Galveston, Tx KO 15Apr 6 Bob White Galveston, Tx W 15Apr 12 Charley Brooks Galveston, Tx KO 2May 1 Jim Scanlan Galveston, Tx KO 7May 6 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx KO 2May 28 Jim McCormick Galveston, Tx KO 7Jun 12 Horace Miles Galveston, Tx KO 3Jun 25 Klondike (John Haines) Galveston, Tx D 20-Some sources report 6/28/00 Oct George Lawler Galveston, Tx KO 10Nov Josh Mills Memphis, Tn W 12Dec 27 Klondike (John Haines) Memphis, Tn TK 14-Some sources report 12/28/001901Feb 25 Joe Choynski Galveston, Tx LK 3-Both fighters were arrested after the fightMar 22 –Johnson and Choynski were released from jailafter each posted a $1,000 bondApr 26 Billy Stift Denver, Co D 10Nov 4 Hank Griffin Bakersfield, Ca L 20Dec 27 Hank Griffin Oakland, Ca D 151902Feb 7 Dan Murphy Waterbury, Ct KO 10Feb 22 Ed Johnson Galveston, Tx KO 4Mar 7 Joe Kennedy Oakland, Ca KO 4Apr 6 Bob White in California W 15May 16 Jack Jeffries Los Angeles, Ca KO 5May 26 Klondike (John Haines) Memphis, Tn KO 13Jun 4 Billy Stift Chicago, Il D 10Jun 20 Hank Griffin Los Angeles, Ca D 20Jul 6 Hank Griffin in California D 20Sep 3 “Mexican” Pete Everett Victor, Co W 20Oct 21 Frank Childs Los Angeles, Ca TK 12Oct 31 George Gardner San Francisco, Ca W 20Dec 4 Fred Russell Los Angeles, Ca WF 81903Feb 3 "Denver" Ed Martin Los Angeles, Ca W 20-Colored Heavyweight Championship of the WorldFeb 27 Sam McVea Los Angeles, Ca W 20-Colored Heavyweight Championship of the WorldApr 16 John "Sandy" Ferguson Boston, Ma W 10May 11 Joe Butler Philadelphia, Pa KO 3Jul 31 John "Sandy" Ferguson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Oct 27 Sam McVea Los Angeles, Ca W 20-Colored Heavyweight Championship of the WorldDec 11 John "Sandy" Ferguson Colma, Ca W 201904Feb 6 John "Sandy" Ferguson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Feb 16 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Apr 22 Sam McVea San Francisco, Ca KO 20Jun 2 Frank Childs Chicago, Il W 6Oct 18 "Denver" Ed Martin Los Angeles, Ca KO 21905Mar 28 Marvin Hart San Francisco, Ca L 20Apr 25 Jim Jeffords Philadelphia, Pa KO 4May 3 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa KO 4May 9 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 3May 9 Walter Johnson Philadelphia, Pa KO 3May 19 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Jun 26 Jack Munroe Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Jul 13 Morris Harris Philadelphia, Pa KO 3Jul 13 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Jul 18 John "Sandy" Ferguson Chelsea, Ma WF 7Jul 24 Joe Grim Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Nov 25 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa LF 2Dec 1 "Young" Peter Jackson Baltimore, Md D 12 -This bout was a "Pre-Arranged Draw"; Some sources report "W 12" Dec 2 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 61906Jan 16 Joe Jeannette New York, NY ND 3Jan 26 Bob Kerns Topeka, Ks KO 1Mar 14 Joe Jeannette Baltimore, Md W 15Apr 19 Black Bill (Claude Brooks) Wilkes-Barre, Pa KO 6Apr 26 Sam Langford Chelsea, Ma W 15 -Johnson knocked Langford down twiceJun 18 Charles Haghey Gloucester, Pa KO 2Sep 3 Billy Dunning Millinocket, Me D 10Sep 20 Joe Jeannette Philadelphia, Pa ND 6Nov 8 Jim Jeffords Lancaster, Pa ND 6Nov 26 Joe Jeannette Portland, Me D 10Dec 9 Joe Jeannette New York, NY W 31907Jan 28 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Jan 29 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Jan 30 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Jan 31 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 1 Peter Kling Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 4 Larry Foley Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 5 Mick Dunn Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 6 Bill Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 7 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 8 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 9 Jack Thompson Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 3Feb 19 Peter Felix Sydney, NSW, Aus KO 1 -Colored Heavyweight Championship of the World;Some sources report 12/19/06Feb 28 Starlight (Edward Rollins) Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 4Feb 28 Syd Russell Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 4-The previous 2 bouts were held the same dateMar 1 Syd Russell Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 3Mar 2 Dick Kernick Melbourne, Vic, Aus EX 3Mar 4 Bill Lang Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 9Jul 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Philadelphia, Pa KO 2Aug 28 Kid Cutler Reading, Pa KO 1Sep 12 Sailor Burke Bridgeport, Ct ND 6Nov 2 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Colma, Ca KO 11 -Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca"1908Jan 3 Joe Jeannette New York, NY D 3Jun 11 Al McNamara Plymouth, Eng EX 4Jul 31 Ben Taylor Plymouth, Eng KO 8Dec 22 Larry Foley Sydney, NSW, Aus EX 4Dec 26 Tommy Burns Sydney, NSW, Aus W 14 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Police intervened; As per prior agreement, a decision was awarded by the referee 1909Mar 10 Victor McLaglen Vancouver, BC, Can EX 6 -Early sources report this bout as a Heavyweight Championship of the World contestApr Frank Moran Pittsburgh, Pa EX 4A.J.D. Biddle Merchantville, NJ EX May 19 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND 6-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldJun 15 George Byers Boston, Ma EX 3Jun 30 Tony Ross Pittsburgh, Pa ND 6-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldAug 12 Kid Cutler Brooklyn, NY EXSep 9 Al Kaufmann San Francisco, Ca ND 10-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldOct 11 Ed "Gunboat" Smith San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Oct 16 Stanley Ketchel Colma, Ca KO 12-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldDec 1 Kid Cutler New York, NY SCHDec 1 Jack Hynan New York, NY SCH-The previous 2 bouts were scheduled;The outcomes are not known1910Apr 28 an unnamed opponent Los Angeles, Ca EX Apr 28 an unnamed opponent Los Angeles, Ca EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jul Al Kaufmann Reno, Nv EX Jul 3 George "Kid" Cotton San Francisco, Ca EXJul 4 Jim Jeffries Port Richmond, Ca SCH-This bout was scheduled but not held;The Governor would not allow this boutto be held in CaliforniaJul 4 Jim Jeffries Reno, Nv KO 15-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldOct -Johnson raced automobiles at Coney Island, NYAgainst Barney Oldfield and lost two races1911Jan -Johnson married Etta DuryeaSep 11 -Etta Duryea committed suicideOct 2 "Bombardier" Billy Wells London, Eng SCH-This bout was scheduled but not held1912Mar 8 Frank Hoe Indianapolis, In EX 4Jun 21 –Johnson was indicted for smuggling a diamondnecklace into the United StatesJul 4 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Las Vegas, NM WF 9 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Police intervened; Some sources report "TK 9" Jul 11 –Johnson opened the Cafe de Champion in Chicago, IlOct 12 –Johnson was arrested for violating the White Slave Traffic ActDec 4 –Johnson married Lucille Cameron1913May 14 –Johnson was convicted in Chicago, Il of violatingthe White Slave Traffic ActJun 4 –Johnson was sentenced to a term of imprisonment ofone year and one day plus a fine of $1,000June -Johnson fled the United States while free with anAppeal pendingOct -The French Federation of Boxing Clubs strippedJohnson of the Heavyweight Championship but theIBU refused to do soUrbach Paris, Fr EX-This was a wrestling match; Johnson won;Falls: 2-0Nov 28 Jimmy Esson Paris, Fr EX-This was a wrestling match; Johnson lost;Falls: 2-0Nov 28 Andre Sproul Paris, Fr EX 2-This was a match between a boxer (Johnson) and awrestler (Sproul); Johndon knocked Sproul out;The contest turned into a riotDec 19 "Battling" Jim Johnson Paris, Fr D 10-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldThis bout was scheduled for 20 rounds butterminated after 10 rounds due to arm injuryto the Champion1914Mar 10 an unnamed opponent Gothenburg, Swe EX-This was a wrestling match;Some sources call this man “G.H.”, a law studentMar 10 Taumisto Gothenburg, Swe EX-This was a wrestling matchJun 27 Frank Moran Paris, Fr W 20-Heavyweight Championship of the WorldDec 15 Jack Murray Buenos Aires, Arg EX 3-Johnson knocked Murray out1915Jan 10 Segundo Guiralechea Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1-Johnson knocked Guiralecha outJan 10 Enrique Wilkinson Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1-Johnson knocked Wilkinson outJan 10 Jack Murray Buenos Aires, Arg EX 1-Johnson knocked Murray outApr Mills Havana, Cu EXApr Scott Havana, Cu EXApr Bell Havana, Cu EXApr 3 Sam McVea Havana, Cu EX 6Apr 5 Jess Willard Havana, Cu LK 26-Heavyweight Championship of the World1916Mar 10 Frank Crozier Madrid, Sp W 10Mar 25 Arthur Gruhan Madrid, Sp W 10Jul 10 Arthur Cravan Barcelona, Sp KO 61918Apr 3 Blink McCloskey Madrid, Sp W 41919Feb 12 Bill Flint Madrid, Sp KO 2Apr 7
