American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

16 x 11 in. enlarged photographic print on 19 3/4 x 15 in. cardstock mount with printed title in lower margin, World's Championship Battle July 4, 1910-Round 14 (right edge of print partially separated from mount, short tear to print near top right corner, edge and corner wear to mount). A photographic depiction of the 14th of 15 rounds in the legendary Heavyweight Champion fight between former champion James Jeffries and then reigning and first African-American champion Jack Johnson. Initially issued as part of a series of images produced to advertise James E. Pepper Whiskey. 

Rightly dubbed the "Fight of the Century", the boxing match between reigning Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, and former Champion James Jeffries was one of the most significant sporting events in history. Staged in front of over 18,000 people in at a specially constructed venue in Reno, Nevada, Johnson's victory against the previously undefeated Jeffries was a critical moment in race relations. Jeffries had retired in 1904, but emerged from retirement in an effort to defeat Johnson and ensure that the Heavyweight title was held by a white man. Media coverage of the time featured openly racist sentiments against Johnson, with betting odds skewed heavily in favor of Jeffries. But after fifteen rounds and over an hour of fighting, Johnson had successfully worn down his opponent and unleashed an assault that repeatedly knocked Jeffries down. Johnson reigned victorious, but in the aftermath, race riots broke out all across the United States that resulted in the deaths of up to 20 people and the injury of hundreds more.