Neither boxer was expressly political ... millions of whites rooted against him, and awaited the "Great White Hope" who would claim boxing honors for their own race. Writer Jack Newfield says ...
In an ironic twist, with the sport dominated by black athletes, trainers and even promoters, the racial issue at hand is the boxing community's fascination with finding the next "Great White Hope." ...
James Jeffries was the first great white hope, announcing to America that he ... was able to enter the ring with a boxer in the conversation as one of the greatest boxers ever.