Jim Johnson (boxer)

Jim Johnson (born James Arthur Johnson, November 2, 1887 – November 19, 1952) was an American boxer who competed in the early 20th century. He is best known for his size and his bouts with Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight champion.

Johnson, often referred to as "Big Jim," stood at 6'4" and weighed over 200 pounds, making him a formidable physical presence in the ring. While never attaining champion status himself, he fought many notable boxers of his era.

His most significant bouts were against Jack Johnson. Jim Johnson fought Jack Johnson twice: once in 1912 in Paris, and again in 1913 in Buenos Aires. Both fights were heavily scrutinized due to the racial dynamics of the time, with many white boxing fans hoping for a white boxer to dethrone Jack Johnson. The 1912 fight in Paris ended in a controversial draw after the referee stopped the fight in the tenth round, a decision widely believed to be racially motivated to prevent a black fighter from potentially knocking out the champion.

Following his boxing career, Jim Johnson faded into relative obscurity. He died in 1952. While he never reached the same level of fame or achievement as Jack Johnson, Jim Johnson remains a notable figure in boxing history, particularly for his role in the narratives surrounding race and the heavyweight championship during the early 1900s.