June 27, 1890 – A milestone in sports history occurred in the 19th-century boxing arena. Canadian boxer George Dixon became the first black world champion when he won in a decision over British bantamweight champion Edwin “Nunc” Wallace in 18 rounds in London, England. “Little Chocolate” as he was known is considered one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
It was later in that year he gave up the title, after just one successful defense. George had a plan though as he subsequently fought as a featherweight and then held the championship of that weight class from July 28, 1891, when he KO’d Abe Willis of Australia all the way to losing the belt on October 4, 1897, when he lost a 20-round decision to Solly Smith.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Discover Formula 1 from the Grandstands
Watching Formula 1 from the grandstands changes how the sport is understood. The pace,
Behind “The Game That Would Be King” With Author Brendan Murphy
The Game That Would Be King: The Uncharted History of Soccer 800 – 1800
NBA Casino Sponsorships: Full History & 2026 Deal Guide
Inside the NBA Casino Sponsorship Boom For most of its history, the NBA treated
The First Gridiron Game
This article was originally published by the Pro Football Researchers Association. You can find
1972/1973 NBA Champion New York Knicks – A Total Team Effort
After winning the NBA Championship in 1970, the Knicks returned to the playoffs in
15 Best Golf Affiliate Programs: A Complete Guide for Golf Content Creators
Golfers are big spenders — over $2,000 a year on average. If you love
The First 20 Number One Overall Drafts Picks – NFL
Welcome to the Total Sports Recall podcast. I’m Harv Aronson and this episode is
The First 20 Number One Overall Drafts Picks – MLB
While the NFL steals the spotlight when it comes to amateur drafts, the other