Tate's first professional bout was with former World Colored Heavyweight Champion Joe Jeanette on 20 August 1912 at Morris Park in Newark, New Jersey.

After beating Lou Bodie in Syracuse on 12 January 1917, thirteen days later, Tate met Langford for a rematch at the Grand Opera House in Kansas City, Missouri and won the title with a 12-round decision.

His rein as Colored Heavyweight Champ was short-lived, a little more than four months, as Langford retook the title on May 1 at the Future City Athletic Club in St. Louis, Missouri, KO-ing Tate in the 5th round.

On 17 January 1921, at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, Tate challenged Wills for his colored heavyweight title but was KO-ed in the second round.

On July 2 of that year, Tate again met Wills in a title bout held at Queensboro Stadium in Long Island City, Queens, New York, but lost by a technical knockout in the sixth.

Tate would later claim he won the fight the colored heavyweight title as he had knocked Wills down in ninth with a rabbit punch, but referee Tom Louttit did not give a count.

This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.