Pardon sought for champion Jack Johnson

WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- A relative of the late U.S. boxing great Jack Johnson says she hopes a new resolution in Congress will restore the controversial champ's reputation.

The measure introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would urge President Barack Obama to grant a pardon to Johnson, who was convicted in the early 20th Century of violating the Mann Act.

The conviction stemmed from Johnson, who was African-American, having a relationship with a white woman. Prosecutors considered the situation to be in violation of the federal law prohibiting transportation of women across state lines for sexual purposes.

CNN said Wednesday that Linda Haywood – Johnson was her great uncle – worked with McCain on the resolution that she sees as righting a wrongful conviction that was steeped in the racial politics of the era.

Johnson, who was as flamboyant as he was pugnacious in the ring, stunned the white-dominated sports world in the United States by winning the heavyweight title in 1908 and then defending it against "Great White Hope" Jim Jeffries two years later in a bout that touched off race riots that left 20 people dead.

Johnson eventually spent 20 months in prison and died in a car wreck in 1946.