George Godfrey (boxer born 1853)
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George Godfrey, (20 March 1853 – 17 October 1901), was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and was the black Canadian heavyweight boxer that John L. Sullivan refused to fight as a champion. He is not to be confused with the American heavyweight George Godfrey who named himself after our subject.
Godfrey left Canada as a boy to find employment as a porter in Boston's silk importing offices. There he took up boxing, calling himself "Old Chocolate". At a fighting weight of 175 pounds on a 5' 10" frame, he would be considered a light-heavyweight by today's standards. He would engage in an estimated 100 bouts, usually against significantly bigger opponents.
In 1881, a bare-knuckle fight against John L. Sullivan had been scheduled but was stopped by the police. After Sullivan had become champion, he would not fight Godfrey.
The most famous fighters Godfrey beat were Peter Maher, Denver Ed Smith, McHenry Johnson ("Minneapolis Star"), Irish Joe Lannon, Patsy Cardiff, Steve O'Donnell and Joe Doherty. He fought the 20 lbs heavier Peter Jackson from the Virgin Islands (based in Australia) in 1888 and lost the colored championship in the 19th round.
In 1892, at age 39, he was KO'd by Joe Choynski.
