Jack Johnson, the first Black man to win the world heavyweight boxing title, was born in Galveston, Texas. He became champion in 1908 after defeating Tommy Burns and held the title until 1915. Johnson’s success and defiance of racial norms made him a controversial figure. In 1913, he was convicted under the Mann Act in a racially charged case and fled to Europe. He lost the title to Jess Willard in 1915 in Havana, later claiming he threw the fight. Johnson’s career record stood at 78 wins, 8 losses, 12 draws, with 45 knockouts.
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