But in 1908, 39 years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, there was Jack Johnson ... Johnson at my best," Jeffries said. "I couldn't have hit him.

Despite the lack of prize money, Johnson's victory in the ring had impressed Jack Curley ... who used the name "Klondike" in the ring. Johnson's big-city debut on May 5, 1899 was less than ...

Long before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, Jack Johnson broke down racial boundaries in the boxing ring. And nearly everywhere else he went. More than a boxer, Johnson was a force ...