When Johnson beat Tommy Burns in Sydney Australia to become the first Black Heavyweight Champion the police jumped in and stopped the fight and turned off the film cameras because they didn't want the world to see a Black guy beating a White guy.

JEFFRIES had retired unbeaten in 1905 and insisted he would not come back. A month after Johnson thrashed Burns he confirmed this again, while criticising Burns for defending his title against a black man: “Tommy Burns has his price—$30,000,” said Jeffries. “Burns has sold his pride, the pride of the Caucasian race…The Canadian never will be forgiven by the public for allowing the title of the best physical man in the world to be wrested from his keeping by a member of the African race….I refused time and again to meet Johnson while I was holding the title, even though I knew I could beat him. I would never allow a negro a chance to fight for the world’s championship, and I advise all other champions to follow the same course….All night long I was besieged with telegrams asking me to re-enter the ring. I answer them now as I have answered them hundreds of times: ‘I have fought my last fight’.”


http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-t...yweight-title/