Johnson Knocks Out Jeffries. Racial tensions were stirred across the United States in 1910 when black American boxer Jack Johnson fought white American boxer James Jeffries for the heavyweight title. The 15-round bout is recounted here. . Johnson Knocks Out Jeffries The Jack Johnson-James Jeffries boxing match in 1910 was more than just the first of several so-called fights of the century. It was more than just the major sporting event of its time. Racial dynamics made the championship fight between Johnson, who was black, and Jeffries, who was white, a cultural event. At the time, only the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire had generated more words over telegraph lines than the Johnson-Jeffries match. More reporters covered it than covered the various wars between nations going on at the time. Despite all the pre-fight excitement, the actual fight was disappointing. "Scarcely ever has there been a championship contest that was so one-sided," wrote boxer John L. Sullivan in the New York Times. "Jeffries wasn't in it from the first bell tap to the last, and as he fell bleeding, bruised, and weakened in the twenty-seventh second of the third minute of the fifteenth round, no sorrier sight has ever gone to make pugilistic history." After defeating the top black heavyweight fighters, Johnson had clamored for a shot at Jeffries's world heavyweight title. The champion, however, refused to fight Johnson; instead, he retired in 1905. Canadian Tommy Burns, elevated to champion after Jeffries retired, avoided the challenger for years. But Johnson wouldn't be denied. "Johnson propelled himself from anonymity to the heavyweight championship not just by being the greatest boxer of his era," Sports Illustrated wrote in 1990, "but by refusing to be silent about the fact that he was." In 1908 Burns agreed to meet Johnson in Sydney, Australia. Johnson pummeled Burns so badly that in the 14th round police officers stopped the fight. Johnson's victory shocked much of white America. Writer Jack London covered the Johnson-Burns fight for the New York Herald and made a plea for Jeffries to come out of retirement. "Jeff, it's up to you," London wrote. "The White Man must be rescued." While Jeffries stayed on his California farm and contemplated a return, Johnson became a celebrity, fighting exhibitions on the vaudeville circuit and traveling around the world. Jeffries was deluged by requests to come out of retirement to fight Johnson. A powerfully built 100 kg (230-lb) fighter, Jeffries was undefeated in 19 fights, scoring eight knockouts. But Jeffries hadn't fought in six years. Johnson was muscular, tough, and quick at his peak weight of 90 kg (200 lb). Racial tensions fueled public interest in the fight as blacks and whites cast each fighter as the champion of their race. The match, originally scheduled to take place in San Francisco, was banned from California because of the lobbying of a large antiboxing contingent. Promoter Tex Richard moved the contest to Reno, Nevada, where it was scheduled for July 4, 1910. Reporters descended en masse on the town of 10,000, which was transformed temporarily into the center of the sporting universe. Hours before the fight, more than 15 special trains from across the country arrived in Reno. The line of people waiting to enter the arena was a half-mile long by the time the gates opened at noon. With only one entrance to the arena, officials knocked holes in the fence to let people through. Meanwhile, people worldwide waited for telegraph reports, which were posted or announced through megaphones. Crowds formed in town squares, around newspaper offices, and in theaters. In Chicago, where Johnson was living at the time, some 2000 blacks gathered at the Pekin Theater. Johnson understood the enormity of the moment. "As I looked about me," he said later, "and scanned that sea of white faces, I felt the auspiciousness of the occasion. I realized that my victory in this event meant more than on any previous occasion. It wasn't just the championship that was at stake--it was my honor, and in a degree the honor of my race." Through the fight's first three rounds the boxers--picking, jabbing, and feigning--proceeded slowly. Even at this cautious pace Johnson scored several shattering blows, smiling or laughing several times during the early rounds. By the fourth round Johnson was in control, and he continued to batter Jeffries for ten more rounds. In the 15th, Johnson knocked down Jeffries with a left. The former champion rose groggily to his feet only to be met by another left from Johnson to the jaw. This punch propelled Jeffries through the ropes. Helped back into the ring, Jeffries was sent reeling again by Johnson, who followed with a barrage that dropped Jeffries to the canvas. The fight was called before the ten-second count was given. The referee raised Johnson's arm, but the crowd of 18,000 made little noise. Although some in the audience had jeered Johnson, the New York Times said he earned respect: "There was no real demonstration against him. They could not help but admire Johnson, because he is the type of prizefighter that is regarded highly by sportsmen. He played fairly at all times and fought fairly." "I won from Mr. Jeffries because I outclassed him in every department of the fighting game," Johnson said just after the fight. "Before I entered the ring I was certain I would be the victor. I never changed my mind at any time.... One thing I must give Jeffries credit for is the game battle he made. He came back at me with the heart of a true fighter. No man can say he did not do his best." Although Jeffries's brother Jack claimed after the match that Jeffries fought so poorly that he must have been "doped" by an unknown party, Jeffries knew what the problem was. "I alone am to blame for losing that fight," he said. "I was fool enough to believe the thousands of people who came to me and demanded that I fight to 'redeem the white race.' They said I could come back, and after a while I honestly believed I could. But I couldn't. That's all there is to it." After the fight, riots, stabbings, and shoot-outs occurred in dozens of American cities. Blacks killed a black constable in Noble, Illinois; white soldiers stormed a jail in an effort to lynch a black prisoner in Virginia; and a white man was arrested trying to enter Johnson's home with a rifle. In Washington, D.C., 236 people were arrested. Many cities banned a film of the match fearing further violence, and several countries also considered such a move. The world was not quite ready for Johnson's victory. 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