Greenwood, Robert – The Prize Fight of the Century

Description

Greenwood, Robert – The Prize Fight of the Century. Reno, Nevada July 4,1910′ 2004 1st edition, 172-pages. VG in VG dust jacket. SIGNED by the author

“Robert Greenwood’s book Jack Johnson vs. James Jeffries: The Prize Fight of the Century, Reno, Nevada, July 4, 1910 chronicles the legendary 1910 heavyweight championship bout that deeply reflected the racial tensions and cultural climate of Jim Crow-era America.

Book Overview and Context:
Subject Matter: The 172-page historical account revisits the historic clash in Reno, Nevada, where the first Black heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson, defended his title against former undefeated champion James J. “Jim” Jeffries.

The “Great White Hope”: Jeffries came out of a six-year retirement specifically to reclaim the title for the white race, backed by a public and media fervor that branded him as the ultimate savior or “Great White Hope”.

Cultural Spectacle: Greenwood captures the massive scale of the event, which drew an unprecedented 18,000+ live spectators, a record-shattering $100,000 purse, and high-profile literary and cultural figures of the era attending as journalists—including novelist Jack London.

Core Narrative Elements:
The Bout: The book details the 15-round dominance where Johnson systematically and decisively defeated Jeffries, culminating in a knockout that shocked the predominantly white crowd and silenced skeptical critics.

The Aftermath: Greenwood explores the immediate social shockwaves of the match, noting how Johnson’s victory was a profound source of pride for African Americans but triggered racist backlash and deadly race riots across numerous U.S. cities.

Historical Significance: The text contextualizes the fight not merely as an athletic contest, but as a pivotal turning point in American racial attitudes, sports history, and the systemic backlash Johnson faced from the federal government in subsequent years.”