Jo Gans (born Joseph Gant; November 25, 1874 – August 10, 1910) was an African-American boxer, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who was rated the greatest lightweight boxer of all time by boxing historian and Ring Magazine founder, Nat Fleischer. Jo Gans was known as the “Old Master”. He fought from 1891 to 1909. He was the first African-American World Boxing Champion of the 20th century, reigning continuously as World Lightweight Champion from 1902-1904 and 1906-1908.
Gans had a final professional record of 145 wins with 100 knockouts, 10 losses, 16 draws, 6 no contests and 19 no decisions (Newspaper Decisions: 13-2-4). He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. A bronze statue of Joe Gans is in the lobby of Madison Square Garden. Boxers would rub the statue’s outstretched left fist for luck before matches.
His legendary fight on September 3, 1906, with Battling Nelson, was commemorated with a memorial located in Goldfield, Nevada at the site of the fight.[ Gans was the first African American to win a World Championship in Lightweight Boxing. According to most sources, George Dixon, a Black Canadian-born American boxer, took the Featherweight Championship of the World in the 1890s. Gans’ achievements not only set new records but gave African Americans hope in the early twentieth century. In a time of racial segregation, champion Joe Gans emerged victoriously.
“Through his ring accomplishments, Gans put into action what others could only theorize. The articulation of the black quest for social equality reached large audiences through the pulpits, and the most authoritative sermons were published in newspapers and religious quarterlies”.
Blood and Oath pay homage to the greatest lightweight boxer.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.