The World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a title awarded to black boxers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
In the heavyweight division, the color bar was adamantly defended by "The Boston Strong Boy", bare-knuckle boxing champ John L. Sullivan, the first modern heavyweight champ, who had fought black fighters on his way up to the title but would not defend it against a black man.
Since the white champs had fought black fighters as equals on their way up, the color bar undeniably was maintained due to racial prejudice.
Sam Langford subsequently claimed the title during Jeanette's reign after Johnson refused to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against him.
Jeanette criticized Johnson, saying, "Jack forgot about his old friends after he became champion and drew the color line against his own people.