World Coloured Heavyweight Championship

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Maple Leaf Stadium

Born in Toronto, Canadian and Commonwealth boxing champ Larry Gains was nicknamed “The Toronto Terror.” Gains was a skilled, elusive boxer, who, for all his success, never fought for a world heavyweight title – a de-facto ban on Black challengers kept that championship segregated. But Gains competed for and won the “World Colored Championship” several times, including against American boxing legend George Godfrey at Maple Leaf Stadium in 1928. Godfrey was disqualified after hitting Gains with a blatant low blow. According to The Globe and Mail, the below-the-belt punch dented Gains’ aluminium groin protector. 

1928

World Coloured Heavyweight Championship

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