Jack Johnson Driving Thomas Flyer, 1910
Jack Johnson looking through the steering wheel of his 90 horsepower Thomas Flyer automobile, John Arthur Johnson (March 31, 1878 - June 10, 1946) was the first African-American world heavyweight boxing champion (1908-15). He had a unique fighting style, which was not customary to boxing during this time. He would fight defensively, waiting for his opponents to tire out. He would continuously dodge their punches, and quickly strike back with a blow of his own. He often made his fights look effortless, but when pushed he could also display some powerful moves, and punches. He was an early example of the celebrity athlete in the modern era, appearing regularly in the press and later on radio and in motion pictures. On June 10, 1946, he died in a car crash after racing angrily from a diner that refused to serve him. He was 68 years old. During his boxing career, he fought 114 fights, winning 80 matches, 45 by knockouts. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954, and is on the roster of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Photographed by Louis Van Oeyen, September 6, 1910.
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Photo credit: © Science History Images / Alamy / Afripics
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