Jim Johnson

Who was Jim Johnson?

"Battling" Jim Johnson was an American boxer who fought as a heavyweight from 1908 to 1918. Born on 2 September 1887, the 6'3" boxer fought at a weight of between 220 and 240 lbs. During the 1910s, he fought the top black heavyweights, including Sam Langford, Joe Jeanette, Sam McVey, Harry Wills and Kid Norfolk on numerous occasions.

He was not a good boxer, and lost with great frequency to the top black heavyweights. In spite of this, Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight champ, gave him a title shot. When they fought in Paris in August 1913, it was the first time that two black boxers had fought for the world heavyweight title. Battling Jim was the only black fighter Johnson faced during his reign as heavyweight champ from 1908 to 1915.