Morris Grant facts for kids

Morris Grant (born May 11, 1845 – died May 23, 1915) was an African American boxer. He was known for claiming the title of the World Colored Heavyweight Champion. He was the second boxer ever to be recognized with this important title. Morris Grant was likely born into slavery in South Carolina. This was either on James Island or near Charleston.

Grant's Boxing Career

Morris Grant was a heavyweight boxer. This means he was one of the heaviest boxers. He fought many matches during his career. His official record shows he won five fights. Two of these wins were by knockout (KO). He lost ten fights, with four of those being knockouts. He also had one draw and two "no contests." A "no contest" means the fight did not have a winner or loser.

Fighting Charles Hadley

Grant had many exciting fights with another boxer named Charles "The Professor" Hadley. Hadley later became the colored heavyweight champion after Grant. They fought twelve times between 1881 and 1883. Their first recorded fight was on January 14, 1881. Grant lost this match on points. Hadley then claimed Grant's title.

Grant fought Hadley ten more times while Hadley was champion. But Grant could not win the title back. In their seventh fight, on May 4, 1882, the match was a "no-contest." This meant neither boxer won or lost. Then, on June 20, 1882, Morris finally beat Hadley. Hadley had been undefeated until then. Grant won on points in a four-round fight.

However, Hadley did not put his championship belt on the line for that fight. So, he remained champion until 1883. That's when George "Old Chocolate" Godfrey finally beat him. Morris lost three more fights to Hadley while Hadley was champion. He lost one more fight to Hadley after Hadley lost the title.

Their last fight while Hadley was champion was on December 7, 1882. They fought for the Police Gazette Medal Championship of America. Morris was knocked out in the third round. Their very last fight was on December 8, 1883. Morris lost on points to the former champion. This was his last recorded professional boxing match.

Life After Boxing

After his boxing career, Morris Grant stayed in New York City. Records show he worked as a "waiter." But it seems he mostly worked as a bouncer in bars. These bars were in the Tenderloin area of Manhattan. He also worked for Tammany Hall. This was a powerful political organization in New York City. He helped them with political activities.

Morris Grant married a woman who was twenty-five years younger than him. They had three daughters together. Sadly, his wife passed away by 1910. Towards the end of his life, Morris had trouble walking. He needed two canes to move around. He died in the Bronx in May 1915.

Grant's Legacy

In 2020, an author named Mark Allen Baker wrote a book about the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. This book covered the years 1876 to 1937. It told the stories of the talented boxers who won this title. It also explained how the "color line" affected boxing. The "color line" meant that Black and white boxers were often kept separate.

For many years, the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was important. It helped fight against unfair treatment based on race. Having this title gave Black boxers a way to show their skill. It was a tool to challenge the "color line" in sports and society.