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Who was the first African American boxer to hold the world professional heavyweight title?
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In part because of white animosity toward Johnson, it was 20 years before another African American boxer was allowed to contend for the world professional heavyweight title. In 1937, Joe Louis defeated James J. Braddock, "The Cinderella Man," to become the second African-American boxer to hold the world heavyweight championship title. Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney in 1982 was the last "great white hope" bout.