Discover the Punch: Top 9 Fun and Surprising Facts About Jack Johnson, The Legendary Boxer

1. Knockout Dental Extraction

Did you hear about the time Jack Johnson got a free dental extraction service in the boxing ring? Talk about a knockout deal: In the legendary 1909 "Fight of the Century" against Stanley Ketchel, Johnson not only staged a dramatic comeback by knocking Ketchel out, but also found some of Ketchel's teeth lodged in his glove, though the myth of six teeth bashed out in a single punch doesn't hold up after inspecting the fight footage.
Source => boxing247.com

2. Boxing Champ Turned Race Car Driver

Knock-knock, who's there? Jack Johnson, the speedy-pounder-extraordinaire! This fast-fisted boxing champ didn't just stick to throwing jabs and dodging hooks, oh no: he was zipping through the streets in a Mercer Raceabout, racing his way to fights and even dabbling in automotive innovations. Although his 1922 wrench patent didn't shake up the world as much as his punches, it certainly added a twist to his impressive legacy!
Source => snopes.com

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3. Jack Johnson and the "Great White Hope"

Who needs Fifty Shades of Grey when you've got Jack Johnson causing scandals in the ring and in the sheets: The first black heavyweight champion was convicted for violating the Mann Act in 1913, leading to a nationwide search for the "Great White Hope" to defeat him in the boxing ring and restore white supremacy, setting off a flurry of racial tensions, riots, and turning him into a veritable legend in sports history.
Source => andscape.com

4. The Boxing Match with Nationwide Riots

In a world far, far away, where Twitter wasn't around to continue the "Great White Hope" debate, an epic boxing match was underway: Jack Johnson's victory over James Jeffries in the 1910 heavyweight championship led to violent racial clashes across the United States, resulting in almost two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries and arrests - mostly among black individuals - forever challenging the myth of white supremacy and shaping the future of race relations and sports in America.
Source => scroll.in

5. A Multi-talented Jack Johnson

If you think Jack Johnson only sang about banana pancakes and sitting on a front porch, think again: This Jack Johnson was the first African American heavyweight boxing champ, a snazzy musician, and a low-key inventor with patents for boxing training tools. Despite his winning combination, he faced racial discrimination and a questionable 1913 conviction for violating the Mann Act, inspiring "The Great White Hope" play and movie; he was finally pardoned by President Trump in 2018.
Source => nytimes.com

6. Heavyweight Strumming

While Jack Johnson knocked out racial barriers in the boxing ring, he also took a swing at some smooth melodies: The first black heavyweight champion dabbled in the world of music, strumming his guitar and serenading audiences, charming fans across racial divides and even recording a few albums during his illustrious career.
Source => arthurashe.ucla.edu

7. Iron Abs: Johnson's Training Regimen

If Jack Johnson were an Avenger, he'd be called "Iron Abs": his awe-inspiring physical conditioning came from laborious hours spent pounding heavy punching bags and training with weighted gloves, all of which fueled his meteoric rise to boxing stardom.
Source => badlefthook.com

8. Joe Louis: Barrier Breaker

Before Joe Louis started breaking noses, he was breaking barriers: This boxing heavyweight champ knocked out racial segregation in football and golf, warmed up Jackie Robinson for his iconic baseball debut, and even sent Nazi Germany's Max Schmeling back to the ropes for a taste of Freedom-flavored uppercuts.
Source => pbs.org

9. Johnson, the Dancing Bee

Before he was floatin' like a butterfly, he was dancin' like a bee and singin' like a race car driver: Jack Johnson was not only a skilled pugilist but also a talented musician and performer, gracing the stages of vaudeville and theatre while harboring a penchant for fast cars and even faster melodies.
Source => encyclopedia.com