Donald Trump's announcement of a Presidential pardon for iconic African-American boxer Jack Johnson completes one of the most extraordinary chapters in sport and society.

Among whites, Johnson was arguably the most hated black man in the United States in the early 20thcentury.

According to Muhammad Ali, the fact that Johnson thrived on challenging racism — about which he cultivated a polarising celebrity status — made him "an inspiration" and the greatest-ever fighter in and out of the ring.

Rushcutters' rumble

Johnson rose to prominence as the Negro Heavyweight Champion of the World. In the racially-charged Jim Crow era, American white boxers drew the "colour bar", refusing to fight blacks.

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His opportunity came, incredibly, after an invitation from Australia, where the Sydney-based sports promoter Hugh ("Huge Deal") McIntosh, offered a substantial sum to both the white Canadian Heavyweight Champion, Tommy Burns, and Johnson his challenger.

Such a bout would have been near unthinkable on American soil.

In mid 1908, McIntosh had staged a bout between Burns and Australian champion Bill Squires, coinciding with the inaugural visit to Sydney of the US Navy, for which he constructed a purpose-built stadium at Rushcutters Bay.

This gave McIntosh the impetus to propose a fight between Johnson and Burns at the same venue.

At a time when the White Australia Policy was a cornerstone of the Federated Commonwealth, 20,000 spectators turned out to watch the fight on the Boxing Day public holiday.

McIntosh had the event filmed for cinema audiences (which can be watched to this day), with Johnson turning out to be a promoter's dream: he was charismatic, witty and physically spectacular.

He toyed with the hapless Burns, much to the disappointment of white barrackers in the crowd.

Fight of the Century

Back in the US, Jack London, a prominent author of adventure novels, wrote that "the white man must be rescued": from appeals like this the notion of a "Great White Hope" was spawned.

First in line was the undefeated Jim Jeffries, who came out of retirement to take on Johnson in what was dubbed "the fight of the century" in Reno, Nevada on the July 4 public holiday.

"Could you imagine what would happen, given the racial dimension of this, if a black president and a black attorney general had suggested a posthumous pardon for Jack Johnson." ( Wikimedia Commons )

This was no mere boxing match. According to The New York Times:

"If the black man wins, thousands and thousands of his ignorant brothers will misinterpret his victory as justifying claims to much more than mere physical equality with their white neighbours."

Independence Day was replete with fireworks at Reno, for Johnson pummelled Jeffries, who was gracious in accepting defeat.

By contrast, furious white supremacists wreaked their own sense of revenge on blacks, with a spate of beatings and lynchings to remind "n*****s" who was still in charge.

Although a film of the Johnson-Jeffries bout had been produced for mass distribution in cinemas, numerous cities and states declared that they would not allow it to be shown, ostensibly out of fear of further race riots.

A challenge to white dominance was thus censored. According to the historian Stephen Ayres:

"Johnson challenged the racist pseudo-science that was shaping the world. He gave hope to the oppressed non-white masses and inspired racial pride."

Retribution

However, what amounted to pride for some had catalysed hatred among others. In 1912, Johnson was charged under the "White Slave Traffic [Mann] Act", his crime being to have transported across state lines his white partner, Lucille Cameron, a former prostitute.

The rule was, among other things, intended to discourage black-white relationships and to curtail the movement of mixed-race couples. Not wishing to be imprisoned, Johnson escaped to Europe, where he continued to box.

Homesick for America, Johnson returned in 1920 but was duly arrested.

He tried to fight a conviction, but eventually served a 10 months custodial sentence.

Johnson's life thereafter remained dramatic: exhibition boxing and strong man performances sustained an income devoted largely to wine, women and song until he died in a car crash during 1946 in rural North Carolina.

Former boxer John L. Sullivan introducing heavyweight champion of the world Jack Johnson, moments before the latter's fight against the returning James J. Jeffries on July 4, 1910. ( Wikimedia )

Forgivable blackness?

The Jack Johnson story was highlighted by the 2005 film Unforgivable Blackness, produced by the renowned Ken Burns.

From here spawned the idea of seeking a presidential pardon, with figures from the entertainment world — musician Wynton Marsalis and actor Samuel L Jackson, as well as representatives of both political parties — John McCain and Ted Kennedy, lending support.

Boxer Lennox Lewis (R) stands by as actor Sylvester Stallone offers up a punch in honour of the late Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion. ( Reuters: Kevin Lamarque )

Their pleas, along with those of Johnson's relatives, fell on deaf ears. The White House policy had long been to use pardons for those who were living and had been wronged; this would allow them to recalibrate their lives. There was also the question of logistics.

As the attorney who drafted the petition, John Siegal admitted: "Johnson was just one of many people wrongfully convicted throughout history". In short, what was the case for singling out him over others?

Yet there was scope in that over the past 20 years presidents on both sides of politics have consented — in a very ad hoc fashion — to a handful of pardons to overturn criminal rulings against deceased Americans.

In the case of Johnson, though, it seemed forlorn. There had been no traction with either the Bush or Obama administrations, with the second of these perhaps most disappointing.

In response, Burns was, perhaps surprisingly, circumspect: "Could you imagine what would happen, given the racial dimension of this, if a black president and a black attorney general had suggested a posthumous pardon for Jack Johnson?".

In this 1932 file photo, boxer Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight champion, poses in New York City. ( AP )

Rocky road to redemption

In an intriguing development, the White House — led by a white president — has now endorsed a pardon for Johnson.

Mr Trump, who in August 2017 was criticised for not calling out white supremacists at a racially charged rally in Charlottesville, was now advocating a reprieve for a black athlete who had unwittingly catalysed race riots around America 108 years earlier.

Whereas the Burns petitioners failed to gain traction, Hollywood mateship opened both doors and ears.

Sylvester Stallone, renowned for his role as Rocky Balboa in boxing movies, is an enormous Johnson fan and a close friend of Mr Trump.

This is how deals are done in the Trump paradigm.

An approving Johnson family spokesman told the press: "I have no idea why President Trump did I … I don't give a damn what his motive was. I don't give a hoot in hell".

Daryl Adair is associate professor at the Management Discipline Group at the University of Technology.