Joe Gans: A Biography of the First African American World Boxing Champion

Joe Gans captured the world lightweight title in 1902, becoming the first black American world title holder in any sport. Gans was a master strategist and tactician, and one of the earliest practitioners of ＂scientific＂ boxing. As a black champion reigning during the Jim Crow era, he endured physical assaults, a stolen title, bankruptcy, and numerous attempts to destroy his reputation. Four short years after successfully defending his title in the 42-round ＂Greatest Fight of the Century,＂ Joe Gans was dead of tuberculosis.

This biography features original round-by-round ringside telegraph reports of his most famous and controversial fights, a complete fight history, photographs, and early newspaper drawings and cartoons.

Colleen Aycock is a member of the International Boxing Research Organization and the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is a contributor to other publications on the history of boxing. Mark Scott, a novelist and former Golden Gloves boxer, lives in Austin, Texas. He is a contributor to other publications on the history of boxing.