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Boxer George Godfrey

Tags:

1891 boxing,

19th century boxing,

antique sports photos,

bare-knuckle boxing history,

Black history in sports,

boxing champions,

boxing in the 1880s,

Canadian athletes,

Colored Heavyweight Champion,

George Godfrey,

heavyweight boxing,

Jake Kilrain,

Old Chocolate,

photo of the week,

prize fighting history,

pugilism,

Queensberry Rules,

sports photography,

Victorian era sports,

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Born in 1853 in Canada, and nicknamed “Old Chocolate,” Godfrey becomes the “Colored Heavyweight Champion” for his bareknuckle victories in the ring. But at only 175 lbs. he is KO’d in the 44th round of an 1891 brawl with Jake Kilrain who outweighs him by some 35 lbs.

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