have their been mor colored or white champions(ethnic background etc irish italian jewish still count as white}
At heavyweight there have been 16 white lineal champions and 20 coloured, since the time of John L Sullivan. I therfore conclude that efforts in the early 1900s, to keep the heavyweight championship as the sole property of white fighters, have failed.
Had boxing been completely integrated and impartial based on only ability since the days of John L. till now the list of champions would be drastically rearranged.
You would see one or two differences but that is about it. Jackson may have beaten Corbett and reigned for a while (though he may have lost). Johnson may have given McVey, Jeanette and Langford a shot, and may have lost, but probably wouldnt have. Dempsey or Willard may have given Johnson a second chance but I am not sure whether this is guaranteed. And Wills also, but again there is no guarantee that Wills wins the fights, though i think he beats Willard if (big if) given the chance. Godfrey May have got a crack at the title when Tunney retired and you would think he might take that chance, but again, there are no guarantees. No one beats Louis, so from then it is pretty much a non event. All in all, very little, if any difference would be had.
True, but the colour line was only really active in heavyweights wasnt it? Which other fighters do you think the colour line cost a world title?
Right!! Only the heavyweight division was effected by race. Sorry, i haven't got the time or the patience for this.
Gans went into the water a couple of times ,would he have had to do that if he were white? He took the short end of the money against Nelson,even though he was Champ so It was a factor. Neither Tunney nor Loughran fought a black man ,so you could take a look at the 175pounders .Then later, Burley,Williams,Marshall,etc. Marshall kod Mills ,but Mills got the title shot. Of the heavies Jackson stands out. I dont think Jeanette ,Mcvey, or Langford beat Johnson. I doubt Wills beats Dempsey but he may have. Langford was a possible at at least two weights.Sam may have beaten Ketchel. McVey was at one time proposed to fight Burns, which he may have won. Gains, and Godfrey deserved a shot. Gains beat Carnera ,Carnera got the shot. Again, I dont think they beat Tunney,but Sharkey was very inconsistant. On an off night Gains might have beat Jack.
