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Curt_Burner

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George Godfrey 🥊 Wednesday Night Fights

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Black HWT Boxing Champion

Boxing Pioneer

George Godfrey

Old Chocolate

1928 Exhibits Red Tint, George Godfrey. (rare) This is the only example of this card that I've come across.
Boxing Pioneer George Godfrey, known as the "Old Chocolate," was a pioneering Black heavyweight boxer whose career in the late 19th century broke racial barriers in a deeply segregated sport. Born in Canada in 1853, Godfrey fought professionally at a time when Black fighters were often denied opportunities to compete for official titles. Despite this, he became the first widely recognized Black American heavyweight champion in 1883, a title acknowledged in the absence of access to the world heavyweight crown. His strength, durability, and skill earned him respect in and out of the ring, and his career paved the way for future greats like Jack Johnson. Godfrey's legacy is one of resilience and quiet defiance in the face of racism, making him a foundational figure in the history of boxing.

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