People, Locations, Episodes

Fri, 07.29.1870

George Dixon, Canadian Boxer born

On this date in 1870, George Dixon was born. He was a Black Canadian boxer.

Nicknamed Little Chocolate, Dixon was from Africville, Nova Scotia, Canada, and fought as a featherweight. He was the first Black to win a world boxing championship and is considered one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Dixon, who had lived in Boston since 1887, won the world bantamweight championship by knocking out Nunc Wallace of England in the 18th round in London. Later that year, he resigned from the title after one successful defense and moved up and fought as a featherweight.

He held that class championship from July 28, 1891, when he knocked out Abe Willis of Australia in the fifth round in San Francisco, to October 4, 1897, when he lost a 20-round decision to Solly Smith, also in San Francisco. He regained that title on November 11, 1898, when he defeated Dave Sullivan in the 10th round in New York City. He held it until January 9, 1900, when Terry McGovern knocked him out in the eighth round, also in New York City. In 20 years of professional boxing, he fought 158 bouts (though some boxing historians say 700), including 33 championship fights.

Managed by Tom O'Rourke, Dixon had a lifetime Ring record: 50-26-44, 27 Knockouts. He died on January 6, 1909, in New York City.

To become a Professional Athlete