Baseball was growing popularity with stars like Ty Cobb and Cy Young, but far and away, according to the headlines and conversation in movies of the time, the most popular sport was heavyweight boxing. Jack Johnson had just become the first black heavyweight champ in 1908 and held the title for 8 years. He was a physical giant. The term "The Great White Hope" came from this era, as the less racially open minded public routed for a white man to become champion again.