People, Locations, Episodes

Wed, 11.25.1874

Joe Gans, Boxer born

On this date, Joe Gans, a Black professional boxer, was born in 1874.

Born in Baltimore, Joseph Gaines (his name at birth) was a legend in the sport. Because he was black, he was compelled by boxing promoters to permit less-talented white fighters to last the scheduled number of rounds with him and occasionally defeat him.  He was also forced to fight at unnaturally low weights and, perhaps. As a result, he was so weakened that he contracted tuberculosis and died while a young man.

After 11 years of fighting, Gans won the world lightweight title by knocking out Frank Erne in one round at Fort Erie, Ont., on May 12, 1902. On Sept. 30, 1904, he fought a 20-round draw with welterweight champion Joe Walcott. Gans was already ill when he defended his lightweight championship against Battling Nelson at Goldfield, NV, on Sept. 3, 1906. Gans, who performed well, won this match when Nelson deliberately fouled him in the 42nd round. In a return bout with Nelson in San Francisco on July 4, 1908, he was knocked out in 17 rounds.

Gans spent nearly a year in Arizona in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest his disease. When he returned to Baltimore to die, groups of boxing fans greeted his train at each station, and his impending death was treated as a national calamity by the press. Known as the Old Master, he was perhaps the greatest fighter in the history of the lightweight division. Joe Gans died Aug. 10, 1910, in Baltimore.

To become a Professional Athlete.