Can Sullivan,Corbett,Fitz,Jeffries,& Hart Truly Be Called "World" Champions?

I think all would agree, Jeffries was the best in his time 1899-1904, and he did beat some accomplished African American boxers.

The truth is Sullivan, Corbett and Fitz met a top challenge as the champion.

Jack Johnson completely avoided the 3-4 best as champion, and he took the title from little Tommy Bruns, who was not viewed to be as good as his predecessors.

Jack Dempsey won the title from an old and rusty Willard, but never beat his #1 contender in Wills.

I think its best to see who a champion fought and who they did not fight. The color line isn't cut and dry. Money, venues, the ability of the opponents, length go the fight, and such come into play.

 

He never defended his title against anyone black, but did Fitz actually draw the color line?

I think Hart's claim is questionable anyway.

I don't think anyone had half as good a claim around the time Sullivan became champion, I think there's a reasonable case Jackson became champion when Sullivan was inactive, and he was inactive for years after that. I think FItz's wins over Maher and Corbett were enough to become the champion. There wasn't really any outstanding black challengers for most of Jeffries reign anyway, and he beat a few a of the better black fighters before becoming champion.

 

Oh I missed that.

He obviously ducked Jackson. I don't think it's clear if he really ducked Godfrey though, as he came close to fighting him twice. I know Janitor think Sullivan only clearly draw the color line once Jackson emerged.

I don't think any of those guys were better than the white challengers though, Dan Creedon and Choynski both beat Childs. Certainly by the time FItz was champion, Jackson hadn't fought him years, and his later fights showed he was done.

At what point though? For Johnson maybe 1902 onward was when he was established himself, and Jeffries only fought a couple more times after 1902. McVea probably later really, when he started getting decent wins. Martin maybe a bit earlier. But none of them were really stand out contenders at the time. Fitzsimmons did a lot more to get a shot at regaining the title. If you take away the race issue and hindsight, I don't think any really stand out as ones he needed to fight.


Munroe was basically personal, I think Jeffries just wanted to punish him and get revenge after their exhibition. Finnegan and Kennedy were both close to other fights, and the latter was only scheduled for 4 rounds.

 

Nope. They were White Heavyweight Champions.

 

I'm not excusing it, I just think from when FItzsimmons became champion until later in Jeffries reign, none of the black challengers were the clear top contender, so it's not that big a mark against them.

 

Maher was the one guy who didn't draw the colour line, oh and Choynski too.

 

Not really a heavyweight but Dan Creedon fought several black fighters, and even wrote an article critisizing the color line later on.

 

Fair point this would not be seen as a champion mentality today, you could argue their handlers wouldn't allow it and it was different time, but I'm more in agreement with you then not.

 

The king of double standards has spoken!

Which African American should Jeffries have defended against in his early days as champion? He beat the best to win his title, then defended it vs. the best of the times from 1899-1901, which included a quick 4 run once sided match vs Hank Griffin, who was African American, and just happened to be a a guy named Arthur Johnson in the same timeline.

 

Jeffries sank himself over Johnson .. if he fought in in 05 or 06 he may have beaten him but at least would have done far , far better than he did in 10 ..

 

Yes they are unequivocally champions.

There were no black challengers in the championship class, for significant portions of this timeline.

Sometimes the color line made a difference, and sometimes it made no difference at all.

I would add that many of these men took a mixed stance on the color line.