Jack Johnson Career Set

Jack Johnson was arguably the best Heavyweight of his era. Born in Galveston, TX, Johnson fought his first bout at age 15 and turned professional in 1897. He fought in private clubs and by age 18, he was making more in one night than his father earned in one week.

Johnson developed a patient style; playing defensively, waiting for a mistake and capitalizing on it. It was criticized by the press as cowardly and devious but when Heavyweight champ Jim Corbett used similar techniques years earlier, it was praised. This had to do with Johnson being black.

Johnson won 27 fight against both black and white fighters and won his first title against Ed Martin for the "Colored Heavyweight Championship. When he tried to fight for the World Heavy Weight championship, the champ James J. Jeffries refused to face him. Blacks could not fight for the championship as they were deemed unworthy to compete for it. Jeffries retired unbeaten without giving Johnson a shot for the title.

Johnson eventually won the Heavyweight title on December 26, 1908 when he beat Tommy Burns in Australia after following him all over the world and taunting him for a match. He won with a 14th round TKO. He beat Burns so bad that when Burns was about to go down, Johnson would hold him up again to punish him more.

In 1910, former champion James J. Jeffires came out of retirement to face Johnson in order to prove "that a white man is better than a negro". The fight took place in front of 22,000 people and Johnson proved to be the stronger of the two by making Jeffries quit in the 15th round. Johnson finally lost his title to Jess Willard and was KO'd in the 26th round. Johnson spread a rumor that he took a dive but Willard is widely regarded as winning fairly. Willard said "If he was going to throw the fight, I wish he'd done it sooner".

Here is your chance to own the career of one of the Heavyweight pioneers. The set has motion menus, chaptered rounds and excellent quality. You also get Jack Johnson's documentary "Unforgivable Blackness".

Disc 1
Johnson vs. Burns
Johnson vs. Ketchell
Johnson vs. Jeffries
Johnson vs. Jeffries (Silent)

Disc 2
Johnson vs. Flynn II
Johnson vs. Flynn II (Silent)
Johnson vs. Moran
Johnson vs. Willard
Johnson vs. Willard (Silent)

Disc 3
Boxing's Best

Disc 4
Unforgivable Blackness Part I

Disc 5
Unforgivable Blackness Part II

Overall Quality: 7-9/9.5

                                 DVD Menu

$39.95 (Limited Time Only)

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