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
Senda Berenson and The First Women’s Basketball Game
The very first women’s game recorded happened only one year after the game was
Power Lifting Career of an Average Joe
Before you get started with this article, you may want to read the first
Mastering the Masters: A Brief History of the Tournament
This year’s PGA Masters Tournament is scheduled for April 11 through the 14th. A
Hidden Sports History: Women’s Soccer & Rowing From the 1800s
When it comes to sports, dozens of leagues entertain fans from around the world.
The Bizarre season of the 1970 St. Louis Cardinals
After winning the NFL Championship in 1947 and compiling a combined 21–5 record in
Wrestling History: Through The Eyes of a Boomer
This article is an excerpt from SPORTS & BOOMERS: The History of Sports Through
Olympic Weightlifting Career of an Average Joe
The first time I witnessed Weightlifting was on the television show “Wide World of
Peek Into Glass Backboards: A Coast to Coast Anthology of American Basketball
The following is an excerpt from Glass Backboards: A Coast to Coast Anthology of