Did Black Figters Hold Back from fighting their best against Whites in early 1900's?

I have yet to see any evidence that Joe Gans participated in any battle royals. I've read the reports of many of them staged in Baltimore in the 1890s, but none where Joe Gans took place. Now, Jack Johnson is a different matter and there's an actual next-day report of his winning a battle royal (as will be covered in Adam Pollack's book).

 

Wow, you'd hate 'The Longest Fight' Senya.

 

I think Johnson did it for affect like he did many things because it was part of his make-up...he was arrogant and selfish and while it pleased him it was not something that was except-able by the ruling whites at the time. SRR had white woman but kept it on the down low because even in his day he knew it would cause problems and SRR did not want the negatives

 

William Gildea doesn't reveal the source where he took the info of Gans participating in battle royals. I don't recall Gans mentioning any such thing in any of the interviews I've seen. He mentioned that he started in impromptu boxing fights with neighborhood boys (they used gloves, too).

 

Absolutely. Billy Papke was a good example. John L. Sullivan. There were some. Others had no problem with it.

 

Well thanks. I do my best. I find this to be a fascinating topic as well. And in boxing history, a thorough examination is always what yields the most interesting data. I don't doubt that blacks were treated differently. They absolutely were in some ways. I just think a lot of hyperbole is attached to it sometimes; hyperbole that distorts history and inhibits an understanding of how things really were back then. I have cited clear examples of this hyperbole.