Best Native-American Boxers

Good call. I seem to remember him being hailed as the first Native American world champ.

EDIT: I think it was first champ raised on a Native American reservation.

 

Prograis wore Indian gear for the walk in against Haney.

 

Native Americans make up a tiny percentage of the US population.

Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis both had some Native American ancestry if I'm not mistaken.

 

Another irony, the false claim that Tommy was related to John Wayne (Marion Morrison) - Wayne being not so friendly toward native Americans on film.

Anyway, nice thread subject.

 

I'll never forget when Hipp fought Bruce Seldon, and Bob Sheridan was commentating on the fight. At one point, he said something along the lines of "For all the Native Americans watching this fight, you people can be proud of your boy". Sheridan was a complete and utter bell end as far as I'm concerned.

 

Yeah, part Cherokee (at the least) I’ve read for Dempsey - facially, bone structure wise, etc. Jack looked it - I guess it came down from his Mum’s line - JD looked very much like his Mum. His brother Bernie on the other hand, looked more like the Dad.

 

Tommy Morrison and Jack Dempsey were both half native american.