Sports History On This Day: September 3

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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.

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World heavyweight champion, Tommy Burns (left), and challenger Jack Johnson (right), during their championship fight on December 26, 1908
The photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of World heavyweight champion, Tommy Burns (left), and challenger Jack Johnson (right), during their championship fight on December 26, 1908 Special thanks to the resources of Newspapers.com and OnThisDay.com for the information obtained.

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