article_snippet.sent: From the moment Jack Johnson beat Tommy Burns to win the world heavyweight title in 1908, a frenzied search began.
article_snippet.sent: After beating Tommy Burns in 1908, Jack Johnson became the first ever black world heavyweight champion .
article_snippet.sent: However, Jack Johnson made short work of Jack Johnson first four title defences, Jack Johnson most notable victory coming over world middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel who made the massive step up in weight and even managed to knock Jack Johnson down.
article_snippet.sent: Yet Jack Johnson had been fighting in second gear until that point and, as soon as Jack Johnson returned to Jack Johnson feet, scored a brutal knockout, uprooting several of Ketchel's teeth in the process.
article_snippet.sent: There seemed an obvious choice: former world heavyweight champion James J Jeffries, who had retired undefeated in 1904.
article_snippet.sent: Jeffries, who as champion had dodged Jack Johnson, was seen as someone who could quickly defeat the title holder and return things to the way Jeffries, who as champion had dodged Johnson were.
article_snippet.sent: Six years out of the ring had taken Six years out of the ring toll on Jeffries and in 1910 Jack Johnson stopped the former champion in 15 rounds, further enraging whites who rioted, taking out their anger on blacks who had the temerity to celebrate Jack Johnson's win.
article_snippet.sent: American heavyweight boxer Jess Willard (left) with his manager Tom Jones in Havana, Cuba in April 1915 .
article_snippet.sent: Jack Johnson loses Jack Johnson world heavyweight title to Willard (left) over the course of 26 rounds in Havana in 1915 .
article_snippet.sent: In 1912, one opponent, 'Fireman' Jim Flynn, was disqualified for repeatedly trying to Jack JohnsonJack Johnson.
article_snippet.sent: Jack Johnson fled to Canada and then to Europe, fighting three times in Paris, where Jack Johnson made history by beating 'Battling' Jim Johnson in the first-ever all-black heavyweight championship bout.
article_snippet.sent: Next Jack Johnson outpointed American Frank Moran over 20 rounds, though the purses for the fight were frozen after a dispute.
article_snippet.sent: Jack Johnson name was Jess Willard, a 6ft 6in fighter, known as 'The Pottawatomie Giant.'
article_snippet.sent: Action from the world heavyweight title fight between Johnson and Willard in Havana, Cuba in 1915 .
highlights_snippet.sent: After beating Tommy Burns in 1908, Jack Johnson became the first ever black world heavyweight champion .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Jack Johnson held the belt for six years and Sunday will mark the 100 year anniversary of Jack Johnson last title defence .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Jack Johnson was eventually defeated by Jess Willard in 1915, following 26 brutal rounds in the sweltering heat of Cuba .