Joe Gans captured the world lightweight title in 1902, becoming the first black American world title holder in any sport. Gans was a master strategist and tactician, and one the earliest practitioners of 'scientific' boxing. As a black champion reigning during the Jim Crow era, he endured physical assaults, a stolen title, bankruptcy, and numerous attempts to destroy his reputation. Four short years after successfully defending his title in the 42-round 'Greatest Fight of the Century', Joe Gans was dead of tuberculosis. This biography features original round-by-round ringside telegraph reports of his most famous and controversial fights, a complete fight history, photographs, early newspaper cartoons depicting boxers, and discussion of contemporary cultural representations of and tributes to the man considered to be among the finest boxers in history.
- ISBN10 1322331685
- ISBN13 9781322331683
- Publish Date 1 January 2008
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 4 March 2015
- Publish Country US
- Imprint McFarland & Company
- Format eBook
- Pages 297
- Language English