On This Day In Boxing History
1890: George Dixon Becomes 1st Black Boxing Champion!
George Dixon RTD 19 Nunc Wallace,
New Pelican Club Gym, Soho
Billed World 114lbs title
***Note: 4-oz gloves
As reported: The Sportsman – June 28th, 1890
THE BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP - “NUNC” WALLACE (ENGLAND) AND GEORGE DIXON (AMERICA).
A SPLENDID CONTEST - DIXON WINS IN EIGHTEEN ROUNDS.
The long-talked-of contest between Nunc Wallace, of England, and George Dixon, of Boston, was decided at the Pelican Club last evening, and introduced to a brilliant gathering in the person of Dixon one of the finest two-handed fighters ever seen. Fully 800 members and friends assembled in the handsome Gymnasium, and when the men entered the ring at eleven o’clock the scene was one not readily to be forgotten. At the start 600l. to 500l. was offered on Wallace, but before a blow had been struck even money was accepted, a good amount changing hands at this price. Contrary to expectation Wallace made a very poor show. With an immense advantage in the matter of reach Dixon quickly established a lead, and though no great harm was done in the first half-dozen round, the superiority of the coloured boy was so apparent that he became favourite at 5 to 4. The tenth round practically settled the business, as Dixon, setting to work in earnest, rushed the Birmingham lad all round the ring. Wallace did his best to stare off the attack, and by dodging evaded some punishment. In the last minute, however, Dixon had matters nearly his own way, and the Midlander was terribly hard pressed when time came to his rescue. Neglecting to follow up his advantage Dixon gave his man breathing time, and “Nunc” getting his second win, made a fair show in the next two rounds. Finding himself outpointed he now went for a knock-out, but Dixon was too clever, and, in addition, almost as fresh as at the start. When the pair stood up for the seventeenth bout Wallace appeared in great trouble, and though he now and again met the Boston boy’s rushes in a plucky manner, the exchanges were all in favour of the visitor, time again coming to the aid of the Englishman. The next round proved the last, as Dixon, forcing the pace from the call of time, used both hands with such effect that before two minutes had expired Wallace was beaten to a standstill, and holding out his hand in token of defeat, another victory went to America, after the two had been boxing exactly an hour and ten minutes.
For fully two years “Nunc” Wallace, of Birmingham, has been generally considered the best boxer at his weight. 8st, in the Old Country. Certainly a few disputed his claim to the title of Champion, and amongst those we may claim the friends and admirers of George Camp, of Bermondsey. Who, in support of their opinion, a little more than six months ago , challenged the “Brum” through the columns of this paper. As all the world knows, this led to a match for 500l. a side, the highest amount ever staked by bantam weights for a struggle with the gloves. The all-important even was decided on January 13 last at the Ormondo Club, and after a scientific battle lasting just upon an hour, Wallace proved his right to be claimed first amongst the boxers at his weight. About this time a “coloured person,” Dixon, was making a name for himself as a bantam-weight pugilist in the States. In several contests of a limited number of rounds he had come off triumphant, but his opponent were of a rather inferior class, and it was not until the end of last year that he attracted the attention of the “sports” across the pond by fighting a terrific battle with skin gloves against one Brennan. The pair had met twice previously, a draw being the result in each case. Dixon, however, had by this time “come on” wonderfully, and though Brennan, too, showed marked improvement, he was a beaten man in the twenty-seventh round, despite which Dixon was robbed of the verdict. By this performance the coloured youth created a very favourable impression and gained a host of friends, who though so much of the Boston boy as to match him against Cal M’Carthy, then the recognised Champion at 8th. This was really the battle that gained Dixon the reputation he brought to the Old Country, as after standing up four hours against Cal, he left off the stronger of the two, but had once more to agree to a draw. Dixon’s fame now spread far and wise, and quickly reached England.
George Dixon
Born: July 29th, 1870
Residence: Boston, Massachusetts
Birth Place: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Pro-Debut: November 1st, 1886
Career: 1886-1906
Division: Featherweight
Alias: Little Chocolate
Nationality: Canadian
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 3½″
Reach: 66″
Bouts: 161
Rounds: 1734
Ko’s: 22.36%
Record: 66-30-57, 36Ko’s
Died: Age 37, January 6th, 1908
Dixon possessing fast hands, quick feet and cat like reflexes was one of the sports all-time greats. Carrying power in both hands, fighting behind a mobile, tight and elusive defense, Dixon became the first black fighter to capture a world title, stopping Birmingham, West Midlands, UK’s Nunc Wallace for the vacant World Bantamweight title, June 27th, 1890 in London, England. At featherweight, Dixon was both the first 2 time and the first 3-time world champion. History burying hundreds of unrecorded exhibitions in vaudeville halls, despite possibly having as many as 800 fights “Little Chocolate” would die in poverty from alcoholism three years after his retirement and is interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.
Inducted International Boxing Hall of Fame: Class of 1990
Nat Fleischer ranked Dixon as the #1 All-Time Bantamweight
Charley Rose ranked him as the #2 All-Time Bantamweight
Elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame: 1956
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame: 1990
June 27th
1890: George Dixon becomes 1st black boxing champ
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