George Dixon
Boxing's first Black world champion, from Africville, Halifax
- Born
- July 29, 1870, Africville, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died
- January 6, 1908 (aged 37)
- Nationality
Canada- Height
- 161 cm (5′3″)
- Reach
- 168 cm (5′6″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Scientific counterpuncher
- Weight
- Bantamweight, Featherweight
- Active
- 1886–1906
The record
Professional; Wikipedia infobox figure, which counts newspaper decisions. IBHOF lists 50-26-44, 7 ND, 3 NC (27 KO) in 130 bouts; his manager claimed at least 800 contests counting exhibitions, so records are incomplete
The story
eorge Dixon was born in Africville, the Black community of Halifax, and was drawn to boxing while working for a photographer who took pictures of local fighters. He had his first pro bout in 1886, weighing about 87 pounds. In 1890 he fought Cal McCarthy to a 70-round draw in Boston, then travelled to London, where Nunc Wallace's corner gave up after 18 rounds. The win made Dixon world bantamweight champion, the first Black fighter and the first Canadian to hold a world boxing title. He took the featherweight crown in 1892, lost it to Solly Smith in 1897, won it back in 1898 and lost it for good to Terry McGovern in 1900. He is credited with pioneering shadowboxing. Broke and drinking heavily, he died in New York in 1908, aged 37.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- World bantamweight champion (1890)
- World featherweight champion (2 reigns, 1892–1900)
- First Black world boxing champion
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1955)
- The Ring Hall of Fame (1956)
- National Historic Person of Canada (2021)
Defining fights
- 1890DRAWvs Cal McCarthy (70 rounds, Boston)
- 1890WINvs Nunc Wallace (RTD after 18 rounds, London, world bantamweight title)
- 1892WINvs Jack Skelly (KO 8, New Orleans, featherweight title)
- 1898WINvs Dave Sullivan (DQ 10, regained world featherweight title)
- 1900LOSSvs Terry McGovern (TKO 8, lost world featherweight title)
Dixon is credited with inventing shadowboxing: box an imaginary opponent for full rounds, feinting, slipping and countering while you step off with either foot, so your footwork and defence work without a partner. His own version even used light hand weights.
