Coolidge Miller
Battle Royal Champ
Circa 1945
A throw-back to another time in era of Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson, Coolidge Miller was an "opponent" whose access to the prizer ring was through the barbaric practice of battle royals.
'"This form of boxing contest was more ritual than sport: it served to debase black youths...Battle Royals had only one theme but a number of variations....Usually eight or more black youths were told to get into the ring and fight a free-for-all. No rules were observed, and only the person left standing won any money."1
It comes as no surprize that during his first year as a professional boxer Coolidge Miller was disqualified for butting Willie Shanks.
Coolidge Miller who began his career in the demeaning ritual of the battle royal ironically saw it end , with the third round knockout, at the hands of the ultimate black stylist, Sugar Ray Robinson.
Vintage Promotional Photograph
Size: 5 x 8 inches
Condition: Fine
1Papa Jack. Jack Johnson and The Era of White Hopes. Randy Roberts. 1989. The Free Press. New York.
Price: $ 95.00
2000-0224