Jack Johnson, Throwin' The Medicine Ball Around

Jack Johnson, Throwin' The Medicine Ball Around
Medicine Ball exercises have been part of the training programs of oldtime boxers and wrestlers for well over a century because they provide a great workout and build strength in a way that no other piece of equipment can match.

Here's the famous Heavyweight boxing champ Jack Johnson throwin' a medicine ball around a Chicago courtyard circa 1910, in his training to defend the Heavyweight title against Jim Jeffries.

That's a powerful looking man -- Do you think he's getting a workout for the all-important waist muscles? You sure wouldn't want to be on the business end of one of his punches.

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James J. Corbett's Indian Clubs

James J. Corbett's Indian Clubs
Indian Clubs used to be very popular with turn-of-the-century boxers because they will build strong and well-conditioned shoulders.

This pair of indian clubs once belonged to the great Heavyweight Boxing Champion James J. Corbett who used them in his training circa 1895 (he held the championship belt from 1892 to 1897.) You can make out his name written in black ink on the left-most club.

Corbett certainly looks like he trained.

These clubs are 17 inches long which means they weigh around a pound each. They also once were on display in "The Ring" Boxing Museum.

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The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt

The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt

Warren Lincoln Travis, wearing his Championship Belt

Richard K. Fox was the publisher of "The Police Gazette" a 19th century magazine which reported on boxing, wrestling and feats of strength that might interest the public. It was Richard K. Fox who introduced the idea of the "Championship Belt" to the United States -- bestowing "The Police Gazette" championship belt to Jake Kilrain (and won shortly afterwards by John L. Sullivan in a greuling 75-round bare knuckle match.) The idea was simple -- whomever wanted the belt had to win it in a challenge match. Richard K. Fox also created a similar belt for the "Heavyweight Strongman Champion" of the world, with the first "title holder" being Louis Cyr whom Fox had managed on several tours of England.

Cyr retired undefeated and eventually passed his title on to the great Warren Lincoln Travis who held it for his entire life. I will provide Travis' Challenege feats on a diiferent date.

The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt now resides at the York Barbell Company Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.

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