jackjohnson

The date in the top right corner looks like March 1912. If that's the case this photo could be part of the build up for the Fireman Jim Flynn fight that took place in Las Vegas that summer. Johnson won that fight and again defended his hard won heavy weight title. However, it was the last time he defended the title in the USA, fighting (and winning) twice in France before losing the crown to Jess Willard in Cuba in 1915. This photo could also be considered a mark of the end of Johnson's glory years. After the Flynn fight he would be forced to move abroad to aviod arrest for various claimed crimes and wouldn't return to the US for 7 years. His next fight in the US was in prison.

This is one of 4 Bain Collection photos of Jack Johnson taken in the same place and apparently at the same time. This one is dated May 3, 1912

Here's a 1965 short film showing footage (filmed from the camera stand to the right of the boxing ring) of the December 26, 1908 bout between Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns: YouTube: Greatest Fights of the Century - Jack Johnson vs. Tommy Burns, Sydney, Australia, December 26, 1908

The men in the foreground are numbered left to right: 8, 2, 7, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. the key is this: 1. Jack Johnson 2. Marty Cutle 3. W. Burns 4. C. Respress 5. Jack Skully 6. Brown 7. J. DeBray 8. Perkins.