LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Fighting prejudice

As an ex-amateur boxer, I was interested in the reference to black American world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson in Prejudice on the Pitch (October). My great uncle Alan fought Johnson in Portsmouth on 11 June 1908. Because of Home Office interference, only a “demonstration” bout was permitted – so although a huge crowd attended, the gate money was modest. Johnson took the lot. Ex-mercenary Alan was satisfied to enter the record books.

Perhaps of equal interest is George Dixon, the first black boxer to be awarded a world title in 1890. He arrived in Britain claiming to be the world bantamweight champion, but