The First Black Boxing Champions: Essays on Fighters of the 1880’s to The 1920’s
Posted by Durell Wambolt on January 26, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Edited by Colleen Aycock and Mark Scott
The following is an excerpt from a speech, printed with permission, given by Michael Schmidt, Lawyer, at one of his favorite eateries, Zorro’s Steakhouse, at Toronto, Canada.
“This gathering, as designed, is a small group in appreciation of those that have been so helpful. I am here to discuss, as one of the contributing authors, the maiden book launch and book signing for ‘The First Black Boxing Champions: Essays on Fighters of the 1880’s to the 1920’s’ which will take place February 9th in Atlanta, Georgia.
The book contains fifteen biographical essays detailing great black boxers from an original golden era of the sweet science with an introduction by the legendary Al Bernstein.
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It is of course fitting that a book celebrating great black boxers should have its book launch in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of Martin Luther King Jr., during the month celebrating Black History. Further, it is appropriate that the book launch take place in Atlanta perhaps as a reminder of the importance of sport and culture and Atlanta’s place in the boxing world. It seems just yesterday that Atlanta power brokers, amongst others Sam Massell and Leroy Johnson, did what seemed to be the impossible, in having the courage and conviction to do what few other States would do, sanctioning and staging the comeback of civil rights icon, and legend, Muhammad Ali against top ranking heavyweight Jerry Quarry. Some forty plus years have passed since that fall night in Atlanta but its importance will live on. Read More
Tags:Colleen Aycock, Mark Scott, Michael J. Schmidt
Filed Under: Press Releases
