Why did Sullivan refused to fight any black fighters?

[Underboss]

I don't buy the ''scared to death'' thing. After all, if there where such things as the most feared, and best black heavyweight it would have been Jack Johnson. And yes, Jeffries faced him with the worst condition he had ever been in. And i saw no fear in him when he was fighting Johnson.

jeffries was out of his prime in 1910, and had a 6 year lay-off of boxing. its tough for someone to come out of retirement of 6 years out of shape and start training for 1 boxing fight. jeffries would of KO johnson if he was still boxing all through the 1900's.

[butterfly1964]

jeffries was out of his prime in 1910, and had a 6 year lay-off of boxing. its tough for someone to come out of retirement of 6 years out of shape and start training for 1 boxing fight. jeffries would of KO johnson if he was still boxing all through the 1900's.

Then why didn't he fight him when he was champion?

[Underboss]

Then why didn't he fight him when he was champion?

, his first professional bout was against a black boxer and ko'd him.

maybe jeffries was scared of johnson.

[Sharkey]

I just want to say that Sullivan issued his own challenge through his manager, Jack Barnett, to fight Peter Jackson in Feb of 1890, and they were to meet in a private meeting "winner take all" fight at Cronheim's Theatre in Boston, as stated by the Chicago Daily Tribune, Washington Post, etc., on Feb 12th, 1890.

"Peter Declines With Thanks" - Chicago Daily Tribune

"Jackon declined the offer and said he was suprised that Sullivan should have made it." - Washington Post

Just something to think about for those saying Sullivan was "scared".

[RockyMarcianofan00]

Then why didn't he fight him when he was champion?

ethics....Back then I'm pretty sure he'd be looked down upon for fighting a black fighter...Not condoning his actions just stating what I think happened....

[CletusVanDamme]

Then why didn't he fight him when he was champion?

Johnson was too green at that point of Sullivans reign and only established himself while on the hunt for Burns. Burn had made a dozen or so defenses before Johnson fought him. This would be like Klitscho calling out a unknown guy with 10 or so fights. Why would he do it?

[QueensburyRules]

I just want to say that Sullivan issued his own challenge through his manager, Jack Barnett, to fight Peter Jackson in Feb of 1890, and they were to meet in a private meeting "winner take all" fight at Cronheim's Theatre in Boston, as stated by the Chicago Daily Tribune, Washington Post, etc., on Feb 12th, 1890.

"Peter Declines With Thanks" - Chicago Daily Tribune

"Jackon declined the offer and said he was suprised that Sullivan should have made it." - Washington Post

Just something to think about for those saying Sullivan was "scared".

- -Interesting in that their timelines never supported Jackson and Sully being able to make a fight.

But I never heard of what Sharkey is Quoting before. 1890 is just before Sully melted into full dissapation, his state when he lost his only fight of his career to Corbett.

Any experts want to weigh in on this?

Sadly Sharkey wasn't with us long.

[OctoberRed]

Johnson was too green at that point of Sullivans reign and only established himself while on the hunt for Burns. Burn had made a dozen or so defenses before Johnson fought him. This would be like Klitscho calling out a unknown guy with 10 or so fights. Why would he do it?

Agreed.

[Joe Beamish]

As Dempsey himself admitted: He was afraid of Sam Langford. The black fighters, especially at heavyweight, were hungrier and more athletic and just better.

[QueensburyRules]

As Dempsey himself admitted: He was afraid of Sam Langford. The black fighters, especially at heavyweight, were hungrier and more athletic and just better.

- -I know beating a dead horse does nothing for his motivation, but sometimes ya gotta beat em to show authorities that he is indeed dead and needs carting off to the rendering plant.

Jack a skinny kid defrauded of his mgr sleeping on park benches, standing in soup lines in a foreign country with 3 broken ribs to show for the fight purses he was defrauded out of when he was offered a fight against the best heavy, indeed fighter in the world, that being Sam Langford.

Dempsey was a gracious fighter in his praise for Langford when he was on top and blind Sam barely scraping by as he was for Tunney, Louis, Rocky, and Ali.

Never liked beating dead horses, but sometimes it becomes a civic duty.