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Sullivan was to some degree a racist, a drunkard, I wont deny that.
But look at his record, how can you call him a coward?
I and no other man who is living now has seen Sullivan fight in the flesh... but from the historians I have read he did take on black and white fighters in his early days touring the country fighting all comers. He had 100's of fights in those days that didnt go on his recod. His later comments were made around the storm of publicity that Jack Johnson (the greatest all round figther in history in my opinion) created. Stupid they may have been, in the context of a racist age (where national mainstream newspapers would freely use the word "nigger") they certainly were, but a coward they do not make.
Jim Jeffries also claimed he was too honourable to fight a black man, but when the money was right he had no objections - although he was soundly beaten in any event. In the same situation John L would have taken the money... but even as a young man with all of his strength, I dont think he could have knocked Jack out.
John L also in fact signed to fighter George Godfrey but the fight fell through for money reasons. (who was most certainly black, not just in ethnicity but also skin colour)
Slade was not white (if you think that Maori consider themselves to be white ask some people of that race) - I guess if he isnt black either that leaves him somewhat stranded.
I dont at all deny that John L used either his own racism or other peoples to duck fights against dangerous men like Peter Jackson when he could earn more fighting whites. He used racism or at least tolerated it to maintain his position. To call him a coward shows you know nothing about the fight game. Do you think John L's 75 round fight against Kilraine shows his cowardice? Anyone who gets into a ring for any kind of combat sport has more courage than the average man. I should thinking fighting two hours in the mud for the right to call yourself the toughest son of a bitch in the room should be proof of one's heart. Both under London rules and Queensbury rules John L took on all comers.
Jack Johnson, ludicrously, was called racist by some people for not fighting Sam Langford a third time (despite having beaten him once easily and once having a rough exhibition fight with him) - the fact was that Jack knew he could get paid 10 times as much for fighting a white tomato can as he could a tough black man like Langford.
Racism existing in the age of many of the great sportsman of our times... it affected them all in some way(Ty Cobb was a racist - and still the greatest baseball player of all time). I dont excuse John L, anymore than I excuse Jack Dempsey (who also drew the colour line in his career)... in both cases these actions diminish them as men. But neither Dempsey or John L was a coward.
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"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."
The Gospel of Thomas
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