Lineage of the coloured heavyweight title

Sounds probable to me too.:good

Don't know how Sam Langford and Iron Hague could fight for the Coloured heavyweight title since Hague was white. Some did regard this as being for the vacant Empire championship, although Sam never showed interest in defending it, and Tommy Burns still had some claim to it.

For an extended period of time beginning during 1912, mixed matches between races were banned in many parts of Canada and the USA. This, and the fact that Jack Johnson drew his own colour line, led to the re-establishment of the Coloured heavyweight Championship.

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The manager of Sam MCVey, William Roche commisioned a diamond belt at a claimed value of $250 in November 1903.

 

great, great post janitor

 

This is what I came up with a while back:

'COLORED' & BLACK HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES


1849 Daniel Knox was described by the New York Clipper as the “Colored Champion,” and was allowed to fight only Black opponents.

1876 Charles C. Smith “The Black Thunderbolt” claims the title after offering to take on all comers.

Sept. 13, 1880
Ben Smith WTKO3 Louis Leard; Pelham Station Alabama
Smith; Alabama Coloured Champion challenged all Negro's to fight for his belt

Jan 14, 1881 Prof. (Professor) Charles Hadley W3 Morris Grant, New York, NY
Sep, 1881 George Godfrey claims title when, after stripping to fight John L Sullivan , the Heavyweight Champion refused to fight.

Apr 6, 1882 (Professor) Charles Hadley KO2 Morris Grant, New York, NY
Dec 7, 1882 (Professor) Charles Hadley KO3 Morris Grant, New York, NY


Jan 10, 1883 (Professor) Charles Hadley KO2 Harry Woodson, New York, NY

Friday 23rd February 1883
Boston, Massachusetts
George Godfrey W (Professor) Charles Hadley KO 6
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title
2oz gloves were used

Sunday 1st July 1883
New York, New York
(Professor) Charles Hadley W Harry Woodson PTS
Date Uncertain (Black Heavyweight Championship)

Saturday 10th May 1884

Boston, Massachusetts
George Godfrey D McHenry Johnson TD 4
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title
Police stopped the fight after Johnson was floored
The fight in the Crib Club Boston, Mass. USA was billed as fight to a finish to decide the 'coloured' title; police stopped it after Godfrey was well on top.

Wednesday 25th January 1888
Bloomfield, Colorado
George Godfrey W McHenry Johnson KO 4
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title
The decision of the referee was later reversed by the club's directors and Godfrey was awarded the winner's share of the purse, he had originally been disqualified. Godfrey knocked down Johnson in the fourth and the latter and his seconds claimed foul. Initially, the referee ruled the bout in Johnson’s favor, but the club eventually changed the ruling.

Friday 24th August 1888
California Athletic Club, San Francisco, California
Heavyweight Peter Jackson W George Godfrey TKO 19
Billed for the 'coloured' Heavyweight title
Jackson never defended the title and it lapsed for close to eight years.

Cyberboxingzone - Peter Jackson won the coloured title by defeating George Godfrey in August 1888 and did not defend again officially, but he retained the Lineal Coloured championship and retained that title against quality opposition (including Jim Corbett) until he ran into a young fighter by the name of none other than James Jeffries. This happened in March 1898. Jeffries knocked him out in the third round and with that win, became the Lineal Coloured champion. In 1896, the coloured championship had been awarded to Bob Armstrong (by the chart in this thread) although a political decision (jackson was still lineal), Bob Armstrong was a sparring partner and in fact in 1898 lost a decision to, You guessed it James J Jeffries. There was one other claimant, because Armstrong actually lost his title to Frank Childs. There is one disputed newspaper report claim that has James Jeffries defeating Frank Childs early in his career. It is also noted that Childs was beaten later on by Joe Choynski who couldnt win the World Title. In any case, Childs dropped the lineal title to George Byers who then went undefeated until losing to Tommy West. Interestingly, Byers also had losses to future title challenger Jack Root.

All in all, there isn’t really any argument that Jim Jeffries wasn’t the best fighter in the world when he won his world championship. In reality, he was as close to being lineal and undisputed as anyone ever has been or could be. In fact, you may be able to create an argument (if you are using the theory in the post above) that James J Jeffries was in fact the first ever undisputed champion.

Nov. 11, 1896
The 'Mirror of Life' stated That Peter Jackson was Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Monday 21st December 1896
Broadway A.C., New York, New York
Bob Armstrong W Charley Strong KO 19
Billed for the vacant 'colored' Heavyweight title

Saturday 6th March 1897
Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York
Bob Armstrong W Joe Butler TKO 6
Referee: Dick Roche
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title

Saturday 29th January 1898
Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs W Bob Armstrong KO 2
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title

Saturday 26th February 1898

Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs W John (Klondike) Haines DQ 3
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title. Fight appears in Childs's record in Nelse Innes's RING RECORD, No. 6, but not reported in the Chicago Tribune.

March 23, 1898
The 'Mirror of Life' stated Peter Jackson is now a physical wreck and should not be allowed to fight

Thursday 2nd June 1898
Chicago, Illinois
Charley Strong D Frank Childs PTS 6
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title


Wednesday 14th September 1898
Lenox AC, New York, New York
George Byers 165 W Frank Childs PTS 20
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title

Saturday 4th March 1899
Stag A.C., Cincinnati, Ohio
Heavyweight
Frank Childs W Bob Armstrong TKO 6
Colored World Heavyweight Title

Monday 8th May 1899 (Other sources have May 6, 1899)

Howard Theater, Chicago, Illinois
John (Klondike) Haines W Jack Johnson TKO 5
Haines claimed 'black' Heavyweight title. Date of May 8 reported in the Chicago Tribune.
Other sources say that Klondike never claimed the Title, he was only 165 pounds.

July 24,1899 George Byers KO9 Charley Strong, Brooklyn, NY

Friday 11th August 1899
Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs W John (Klondike) Haines PTS 6
Childs claims Haines 'black' Heavyweight title

Saturday 28th October 1899
Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs W John (Klondike) Haines KO 3
Childs defends 'black' Heavyweight title

Friday 16th March 1900
Star AC, Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs D George Byers PTS 6
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title
Childs defends 'black' Heavyweight title

Saturday 15th December 1900
Chicago, Illinois
Frank Childs W Joe Butler KO 6
Childs defends 'black' Heavyweight title

Saturday 16th March 1901
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Frank Childs W George Byers KO 17
Billed for the 'colored' Heavyweight title

Monday 24th February 1902
American A.C., Chicago, Illinois
Denver Ed Martin W Frank Childs PTS 6
Martin wins world 'colored' heavyweight title




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Friday 25th July 1902
London, England (Crystal Palace, Sydenham)
Denver Ed Martin W Bob Armstrong PTS 15
Martin defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
"Martin proved the cleverer and never gave his opponent a chance, being declared an easy winner on points at the close of the fifteenth round; Martin, it is announced, will challenge the winner of the Jeffries-Fitzsimmons fight in San Francsico." (Associated Press) Referee was Tom Scott and Martin weighed 186, Armstrong 196

Saturday 16th August 1902
Newcastle, England
Denver Ed Martin W Frank Craig TKO 3
Martin defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Saturday 30th August 1902
Newcastle, England
Denver Ed Martin W Frank Craig KO 4
Martin defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 21st October 1902
Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Heavyweight
Jack Johnson W Frank Childs TKO 12
Childs loses his claim as world 'colored' heavyweight champion; Childs's seconds claimed he dislocated his elbow

Wednesday 10th December 1902
Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Heavyweight
Denver Ed Martin NC Bob Armstrong ND 6
Martin defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
"The bout was fast from the start and both men narrowly escaped a knockout. The bell saved Armstrong in the third and fifth and Martin was floored six times in the fourth round." (Daily Gazette and Bulletin)
Some sources report this bout held 12/11/02.

Thursday 5th February 1903
Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Jack Johnson W Denver Ed Martin PTS 20
Johnson wins world 'colored' heavyweight title

Thursday 26th February 1903
Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Jack Johnson W Sam McVea PTS 20
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Monday 11th May 1903
Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson W Joe Butler KO 3
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 27th October 1903
Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Jack Johnson W Sam McVea PTS 20
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Monday 15th February 1904
Lenox A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson W Black Bill NWS 6
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
Newspaper decision as reported in the Philadelphia Item.

Friday 22nd April 1904
San Francisco, California
Jack Johnson W Sam McVea KO 20
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Thursday 2nd June 1904
Chicago, Illinois
Jack Johnson W Frank Childs PTS 6
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 18th October 1904
Hazard's Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Jack Johnson W Denver Ed Martin KO 2
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 2nd May 1905
Knickerbocker A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson W Black Bill KO 4
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
Claude Brooks used the name "Black Bill"

Tuesday 9th May 1905
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson W Walter Johnson KO 3
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
Jack Johnson NC Joe Jeannette ND 3
Record indicates Johnson fought Jeannette and Johnson on the same day.

Saturday 25th November 1905
National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson L Joe Jeannette DQ 2
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title. Although losing Johnson still claimed the title because he was disqualified

Friday 1st December 1905
Eureka A.C., Baltimore, Maryland
Jack Johnson NC Young Peter Jackson ND 12
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title
"At its conclusion no decision was given. Johnson had undertaken to knock Jackson out within twelve rounds or take the smaller end of the receipts. He failed to do so." (Durango Democrat)

Saturday 2nd December 1905
National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson NC Joe Jeannette ND (W)6
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 16th January 1906
Sharkey A.C., New York, New York
Jack Johnson W Joe Jeannette NWS 3
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title. (Boston Globe)

Wednesday 14th March 1906
Baltimore, Maryland
Jack Johnson W Joe Jeannette PTS 15
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Thursday 26th April 1906
Lincoln A.C., Chelsea, Massachusetts
Jack Johnson 185 W Sam Langford 156 PTS 15
Referee: Martin Flaherty
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title - Langford knocked down twice.

 

Thursday 20th September 1906
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack Johnson NC Joe Jeannette ND 6
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Monday 26th November 1906
Portland, Maine
Jack Johnson D Joe Jeannette PTS 10
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

Tuesday 19th February 1907
Gaiety Athletic Hall, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Jack Johnson W Peter Felix KO 10
Johnson defends world 'colored' heavyweight title

1908 Jack Johnson wins world heavyweight title in December.

Feb 20,1909 Sam McVea W20 Joe Jeannette, Paris, FR
Apr 9, 1909 Sam McVea KO2 Cyclone Billy ******, Paris, FR
Apr 17, 1909 Joe Jeannette KO49 Sam McVea, Paris, FR
---Sam Langford claims title after Johnson refuses to face him for the world title.

Tuesday 13th July 1909
Bijou Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sam Langford W John (Klondike) Haines NWS 6
Langford claims World 'colored' Heavyweight title after Jack Johnson refuses to meet him. Langford reported to have had the better of fight by Pittsburgh Post.

Tuesday 28th September 1909
Armory, Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W Dixie Kid TKO 5
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 2nd November 1909
Armory, Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W John (Klondike) Haines KO 2
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Dec 11,1909 Joe Jeanette D30 Sam McVey, Paris, FR

Monday 10th January 1910
Memphis, Tennessee
Sam Langford W Dixie Kid KO 3
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Saturday 14th May 1910
National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sam Langford W Battling Jim Johnson NWS 6
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Langford "had things practically all his own way." (Washington Post)

Tuesday 6th September 1910
Armory A.C., Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette PTS 15
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Thursday 10th November 1910
Joplin, Missouri
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Jeff Clark KO 2
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"Sam Langford won over Jeff Clark of Joplin in the second round of what was to have been a ten-round bout here tonight. The fight was stopped when Clark was all but out. Before he would fight Langford insisted that the ring be reduced to sixteen feet square. From the tap of the gong Langford rushed, showering short jabs to the body. The force of his onslaught rendered Clark powerless and he was knocked to the floor for the count of eight three times in the first round. He came back gamely, but after two minutes of the second round, after he had gone down twice, the referee stopped the fight, giving Langford the decision." (Indianapolis Star)


Tuesday 6th December 1910
Armory, Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W Morris Harris KO 2
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 10th January 1911
Armory A.A., Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette PTS 12
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"Langford had a decisive lead in every round but one and in the first round dropped Jeannette for a count of eight." (Elbert County Banner)

Saturday 1st April 1911
Paris, France
Sam Langford D Sam McVea PTS 20
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim


Tuesday 5th September 1911
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette NWS 10
Langford won the newspaper decision according to the New York Times. Jeanette was knocked down in the 1st, 4th, and 10th rounds.
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 26th December 1911
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sam McVea W Sam Langford PTS20
Langford loses world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 8th April 1912
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sam Langford W Sam McVea PTS 20
Australian Heavyweight Title
Langford regains world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Saturday 3rd August 1912
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sam Langford W Sam McVea PTS 20
Australian Heavyweight Title ~
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Wednesday 9th October 1912
Perth, Australia
Sam Langford W Sam McVea TKO 11
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
McVey claimed a foul. This was not allowed and he refused to continue.

Thursday 26th December 1912
Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sam Langford W Sam McVea KO 13
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 24th March 1913
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sam Langford D Sam McVea PTS 20
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 9th September 1913
Atlantic Gardens A.C., New York, New York
Heavyweight
Sam Langford 185 W John Lester Johnson 170 KO 11
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim.
At the gong, Johnson began prancing and stamping around the ring like a horse with the blind staggers. Langford was compelled to take long-distance swings and the only place he could reach was his opponents left kidney, which he did until Johnson went down.

Friday 3rd October 1913
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Sam Langford 199¼ D Joe Jeannette NWS10
Referee: Billy Joh
Newspaper decision was a draw according to the New York Times. It was felt that Langford was badly out of shape. Atlanta Constitution reported Jeannette winning
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Saturday 20th December 1913
Luna Park, Paris, France
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette PTS 20
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 23 March 1914
National S.C., New York, New York
Sam Langford W Bill Watkins TKO-1
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim.

Friday 27th March 1914
Empire A.C., New York, New York
Sam Langford 200 W Battling Jim Johnson 226 NWS 10
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Langford "won by a wide margin" when Johnson "failed to show anything remotely resembling championship ability" (New York Times)

Wednesday 15th April 1914
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Sam Langford W George Kid Cotton PTS 8
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 1st May 1914
New Orleans, Louisiana
Sam Langford D Harry Wills NWS10
Newspaper decision was a draw
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Thursday 26th November 1914
Vernon, California
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Harry Wills KO14
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"With a left swing to the jaw, Sam Langford of Boston knocked out Harry Wills, the giant New Orleans negro, in the fourteenth round of a scheduled twenty-round fight this afternoon at Vernon. Both men were knocked down repeatedly, Langford himself taking the count four times in the first two rounds. Langford early in the fight hurt his left ankle as he fell to the mat in a vicious breakaway. Wills' effective straight-arm drives gave him an apparent even break in most of the rounds, but Langford fought with a superior knowledge of the game that gradually wore out Wills. As the soreness left Langford's injured ankle, his footwork improved and the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth rounds showed Langford winning. His speed, judgment and force then enabled him to play with Wills. The final swing was delivered after a torrent of blows had left Wills staggering." (Indianapolis Star)

Tuesday 6th April 1915
35th Street A.C., New York, New York
Sam Langford 195 D Battling Jim Johnson 224 NWS 10
Newspaper decision was a draw according to the New York Times
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 13th April 1915
Boston, Massachusetts
Heavyweight
Joe Jeannette W Sam Langford PTS 12
Langford loses world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 27th April 1915
Boston, Massachusetts
Joe Jeannette D Sam McVea PTS 12
Jeannette defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 29th June 1915
Atlas A.A., Boston, Massachusetts
Sam McVea W Sam Langford PTS 12
McVey wins a version of World 'colored' Heavyweight title

Tuesday 7th September 1915
Boston, Massachusetts
Harry Wills W Sam McVea PTS 12
McVey loses his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 3rd December 1915
Harlem S.C., New York, New York
Harry Wills 205 W Sam Langford 195 NWS 10
Wills easily won the newspaper decision, per the New York Times
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 3rd January 1916
New Orleans, Louisiana
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford PTS 20
Referee: Tommy Burns
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 11th February 1916
New Orleans, Louisiana
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Harry Wills KO 19
Wills loses his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"Sam Langford knocked out Harry Wills in the 19th round of a scheduled twenty-round go at a local arena last night. Until the knockout blow neither fighter seemed to have the advantage." (Reno Evening Gazette)

 

Thursday 17th February 1916
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Heavyweight
Sam Langford 193 D Sam McVea 212 NWS 10
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim.
New York Times

Saturday 26th February 1916
Montreal, Quebec
Joe Jeannette W Silas Green KO 6
Jeannette defends his world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 28th February 1916
Long Acre A.A., New York, New York
Sam Langford W Cleve Hawkins NWS 10
Langford easily won the newspaper decision, per the New York Times. Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 7th March 1916
Broadway S.C., Brooklyn, New York
Harry Wills W Sam Langford NWS 10
Wills easily won the newspaper decision, per the New York Times. Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Wednesday 22nd March 1916
Syracuse, New York
Sam Langford W Dave Mills TKO 2
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 31st March 1916
St. Louis, Missouri
Heavyweight
Sam Langford 190 W Jeff Clark 175 TKO 5
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"Sam Langford drove his right hand against Jeff Clark's jaw in the fifth round of their scheduled 10 round bout here last night. Clarke's second carried him away." (Sandusky Star Journal)

Friday 7th April 1916
Syracuse, New York
Heavyweight
Sam McVea D Sam Langford NWS 10
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Newspaper draw. (Sandusky Star Journal)

Tuesday 25th April 1916
St. Louis, Missouri
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford NWS 8
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Nevada State Journal)



Tuesday 2nd May 1916
East Market St. Rink, Akron, Ohio
Sam Langford NC Sam McVea ND 12
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 12th May 1916
Arena, Syracuse, New York
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette KO 7
Langford wins undisputed world 'colored' heavyweight title

Saturday 12th August 1916
Teatro Roma, Avellaneda, Buenos Aires
Heavyweight
Sam Langford D Sam McVea PTS 20
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Controversial Decision

Thursday 30th November 1916
Syracuse, New York
Heavyweight
Sam Langford 198 D Bill Tate 226 NWS 10
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim. The Syracuse Herald gave it to Langford, but the Syracuse Post-Standard gave it to Tate. Either way it was a very close fight.

Tuesday 12th December 1916
St. Louis, Missouri
Sam Langford W Battling Jim Johnson KO 12
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 1st January 1917
Kansas City, Missouri
Sam Langford W Battling Jim Johnson PTS12
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Thursday 25th January 1917
Kansas City, Missouri
Heavyweight
Bill Tate W Sam Langford PTS 12
Langford loses his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 1st May 1917
St. Louis, Missouri
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Bill Tate KO 5
Langford regains his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 11th May 1917
Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Heavyweight
Sam Langford D Harry Wills NWS 6
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
(Chicago Tribune)

Friday 14th September 1917
Toledo, Ohio
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette NWS 12
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
(Chicago Tribune)

Thursday 20th September 1917
Brooklyn, New York
Heavyweight
Sam Langford L Harry Wills NWS 10
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Warren Evening Mirror)

Monday 12th November 1917
Coliseum, Toledo, Ohio
Heavyweight
Sam Langford L Harry Wills NWS 12
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Decatur Review)

Monday 17th December 1917
Stockyards Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Heavyweight
Sam Langford W Kid Norfolk KO2
Langford defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Norfolk down 3 times in 2d

Sunday 14th April 1918
Panama City
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford KO 6
Langford loses his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Sunday 19th May 1918
Panama City Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford TKO 7
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 19th August 1918
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Harry Wills W Jeff Clark TKO 5
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Saturday 14th September 1918
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Harry Wills NC Jack Thompson ND 6
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim





Tuesday 10th June 1919
Jersey City, New Jersey
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W John Lester Johnson NWS 8
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Bridgeport Standard Telegram)

Friday 4th July 1919
St. Louis, Missouri
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford W NWS 8
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Decatur Review)

Monday 18th August 1919
Arena, Syracuse, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Jeff Clark TKO 4
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 30th September 1919
Arena, Syracuse, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills NC Sam Langford ND 10
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
The Syracuse Herald reported that it was a very disappointing fight and that it wasn't important 'whether Wills won or Langford won or it was a draw.' It did report that Langford's eye was closed and his mouth cut at the end, while Wills only suffered a damaged reputation.

Monday 20th October 1919
Fourth Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Joe Jeannette NWS 8
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
Wills won the newspaper decision. (Newark Advocate)

Wednesday 5th November 1919
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford PTS15
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Thursday 1st January 1920
Coliseum, San Francisco, California
Heavyweight
Harry Wills NC Jack Thompson NC 3
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
After their loudly booed perfrormance, both fighters purses were withheld by the promoters

Monday 12th January 1920
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Harry Wills W Jack Thompson PTS 15
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Wednesday 17th March 1920
St. Paul, Minnesota
Harry Wills W Andrew Johnson KO 1
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
This bout lasted 42 seconds. Wills hit Johnson once and Johnson hit the floor twice. Johnson went down, got up, went down--and then stayed down.Vancouver Daily World


Friday 23rd April 1920
Stockyard Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Sam Langford PTS 15
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
"The once mighty Sam Langford was led to an awful slaughter by Harry Wills of New Orleans at Denver Friday night. Altho the Tarbaby was not disgraced, gamely surviving four knockdowns in the first round, and by superb ring generalship lasting the fifteen-round limit. The two blacks were fighting on even terms on the finish, but the referee's decision easily went to Wills." (Evening State Journal)
Also incorrectly reported as occurring April 19.
Wills is generally regarded by all as the leading black heavyweight in the world. He holds the “title” of colored champion until his loss at the hands of Jack Sharkey in October of 1926.

Wednesday 8th September 1920
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Harry Wills NC Sam McVea NC 6
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim
The referee stopped the bout, claiming the two were stalling. Both boxers then were barred from boxing again in Philadelphia.

 

Monday 17th January 1921
Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills 210 W Bill Tate 230 KO2
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 11th February 1921
Baltimore, Maryland
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Jeff Clark KO 2
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 27th May 1921
Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills 211 W Andrew Johnson 212½ KO 10
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Saturday 2nd July 1921
Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills 214 W Bill Tate 243 TKO 6
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 18th November 1921
Arena, Milwaukie, Oregon
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Denver Ed Martin KO1 Time: 2:05 ~
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim. Martin was down six times

Wednesday 30th November 1921
Denver, Colorado
Harry Wills NC Jack Thompson NC 5
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim.
The referee stopped the fight without rendering a decision after Thompson fell to the floor claiming a foul had been committed.

Wednesday 7th December 1921
Denver, Colorado
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Bill Tate PTS 12
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 2nd January 1922
Arena, Milwaukie, Oregon
Promoter: George Moore
Heavyweight
Harry Wills L Bill Tate DQ 1
Referee: Tom Louttit
Wills was disqualified for knocking Tate down after the referee's call to break; Both fighters agreed to a rematch four days later, at no cost to the fans.
Tate claims the Black Heavyweight Title.

Friday 6th January 1922
Arena, Milwaukie, Oregon
Promoter: George Moore
Heavyweight
Harry Wills D Bill Tate PTS 10
Both fighters claimed the Black Heavyweight title in this bout. Wills bled from a cut over his right eye from the 5th round on. Wills was knocked down for no count in the 9th from a rabbit punch.
(Both fought without pay because of that Monday night fiasco four days previous.)

Tuesday 17th January 1922
Arena, Milwaukie, Oregon
Harry Wills W Sam Langford PTS 10
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim


Thursday 29th June 1922
Trenton, New Jersey
Harry Wills 211 W Jeff Clark 193 KO 2
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 17th July 1922
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Harry Wills W Jeff Clark KO 3
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 21st August 1922
Broad A.C., Newark, New Jersey
Harry Wills 215 W Buddy Jackson 194 KO 2 Time: 2:14
Referee: Harry McCoy
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Tuesday 29th August 1922
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Tut Jackson KO 3
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Friday 29th September 1922
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Harry Wills 213¾ W Clem Johnson 204 TKO12 Time: 1:55
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Monday 5th November 1923
Newark, New Jersey
Heavyweight
Harry Wills W Jack Thompson TKO 4
Wills defends his World 'colored' heavyweight title claim

Nov 8, 1926 George Godfrey KO6 Larry Gains, Buffalo, NY
Nov 22, 1926 George Godfrey D10 Bearcat Wright, Portland, OR

Jul 5, 1927 George Godfrey KO7 Neil Clisby, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 20, 1927 George Godfrey KO1 Clem Johnson, Atlantic City, NJ

Aug 15, 1928 Larry Gains WF3 George Godfrey, Toronto, Can
-Billed as a championship affair---Gaines never made any real claim to the title. He left to campaign in Europe and Godfrey remained recognized as the colored champion.

Dec 19, 1930 George Godfrey D10 Bearcat Wright, Atlantic City, NJ
-Billed as for the American Black Title

Aug 24, 1931 George Godfrey KO2 Seal Harris, Toronto, Can

Sep 5,1932 George Godfrey KO5 Roy (Ace) Clark, Laredo, TX

Jan 31, 1933 George Godfrey W10 Tiger Jack Fox, Indianapolis, IN
Mar 10, 1933 George Godfrey NC6 Bearcat Wright, Kansas City, MO
Oct 9, 1933 Obie Walker W10 George Godfrey, Philadelphia, PA

Jul 20, 1935 Larry Gains W15 Obie Walker, Leicester, Eng

 

That is, despite getting knocked out by Godfrey, Hadley retained his claim for the title? I didn't see any mention of Godfrey-Hadley fight billed for any title, in the clipping of the fight I have.

 

So, Jack Johnson was the Lineal coloured champion when he lost to Willard, but this couldnt have been a title match for obvious reasons. So, did Jack end up losing the lineal coloured championship?

 

Sam Langford claimed the Title after Johnson refused to box him. Sam McVea also claimed the Title for the same reason and he lost to Jeannette who in turn lost to Langford.

1908 Jack Johnson wins world heavyweight title in December.

Feb 20,1909 Sam McVea W20 Joe Jeannette, Paris, FR
Apr 9, 1909 Sam McVea KO2 Cyclone Billy Warren, Paris, FR
Apr 17, 1909 Joe Jeannette KO49 Sam McVea, Paris, FR
---Sam Langford claims title after Johnson refuses to face him for the world title.

Tuesday 13th July 1909
Bijou Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Sam Langford W John (Klondike) Haines NWS 6
Langford claims World 'colored' Heavyweight title after Jack Johnson refuses to meet him. Langford reported to have had the better of fight by Pittsburgh Post.

Tuesday 6th September 1910
Armory A.C., Boston, Massachusetts
Sam Langford W Joe Jeannette PTS 15
Langford defends world 'colored' heavyweight title claim

 

Welcome to the board Hhascup! I can see you will be a fine addition.

By chance is there a picture of the colored title belt? I read it was leather with diamonds.

 

Thanks for that, but

Sam Langford may have "claimed" it, but you cannot "claim" a lineal title. This means that Johnson retained the lineal title (in the same way that George Foreman retained the lineal World title) when he refused to fight no1 contenders or when Spinks maintained the lineal title until he lost to Tyson, or Ali, until he lost to Frazier.

When Johnson lost to Willard, he did not lose a fight for 11 years. That is an amazing record, when you think about it. His next loss was to Fighting Bob Lawson. I guess the question here is does 'fighting' Bob Lawson qualify for the coloured heavyweight championship. And if he does, doe this mean that he holds the lineal title until he meets George Godfrey, or Is bob lawsons record different to what is on boxrec.

 

Johnson wouldn't give any of the top "BLACK" fighters a title shot, so Langford and other top "Black" fighters claimed the title. When Langford, who challenged Johnson many times, beat all the rest of the top "Black" fighters, he was recognized as the rightful title holder.

You could say that Johnson was the "Lineal" Champion BUT he never claimed to be the Champion during that time.

 

Quick question. Is there a reason why Jack Johnson never fought Bob Armstrong?