September 3, 1908 – Prize fighter Tommy Burns was the world champion in the heavyweight division of boxing in the first decade of the 20th-Century. His eye was on the prize of keeping his belt and preparing to step in the ring with the top challenger for his title, Jack Johnson.
The Canadian boxing champion bided his time and spent it well as on this day he traveled down under and knocked out Australian upstart Bill Lang in 6 rounds in Melbourne in a warmup fight for his famous title bout with Mr. Johnson. Burns was finally enticed to fight challenger Jack Johnson at the Sydney Stadium in Rushcutters Bay, Boxing Day 1908.
The fight was to change the history of boxing with Johnson crowned the first black Heavyweight World Champion.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
NCAA’s Men’s Basketball Teams With Perfect Records (A Brief Overview)
The quest for perfection in college basketball has been an elusive one. Since Bill
1972 NFC Semi-Final Game Between Dallas and San Fransisco
Dallas fell behind quickly when Vic Washington ran the opening kickoff 97 yards to
1948: The Last Hurrah of the Chicago Cardinals
Cardinals’ fans are familiar with the long, sad story concerning the current championship dry
Remembering the Great Punters of the 1970s
It is perhaps the least appreciated, or probably the least understood position in a
Beyond The Stitch: The Dynamic Story of Basketball Uniforms
In the thrilling sport of basketball, where every dribble and dunk counts, the right
Milwaukee Bucks’ Quest For Excellence (And A Look Back In Time)
The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations, riding the momentum
The Longest NFL Game Ever Played
The 1971 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City
The Quickest Recorded Touchdowns in NFL History
There is no better way to start a game of football than with a