The raucous crowd had grown louder with each round, each punch, as the two determined fighters circled each other, looking for an opening to attack. The scene was the Vernon Arena in Los Angeles, California. The date was January 2, 1913. As the bell signaled the start of the eighteenth round, Luther McCarty stung Al Palzer with a left to the jaw, followed by a right to his head. Palzer reeled away, wobbly and shaken. McCarty stalked him for the kill. Suddenly, referee Eyton knifed in between the two, raised his hands, and the bout was over. Luther McCarty of Sidney, Ohio, was the new white heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Boxing in America has had at best a checkered past. Some historians point to the period of the early 1900's as the most sordid chapter in the history of the sport. McCarty played an interesting, and ultimately tragic part in this colorful era. This is his story.

The successful black athlete is so commonplace today that it is difficult to imagine a time when a champion of color would not be well accepted by white America. As the century began, however, there were no Negroes in professional sports. Enter Jack Johnson. A splendid athlete at six feet and a finely tuned two hundred pounds, he dominated boxing for a decade as no one has since. He fought a succession of white challengers who were no match for the powerful, yet lightning quick Johnson. Even with this success, he was not recognized as champion by the sports fans of white America.

Johnson lived a lavish lifestyle, and it was reported that he traveled frequently in the company of white prostitutes. Many considered this, along with his marriages to two white women in a row, scandalous behavior. When Johnson was indicted for taking another white prostitute across state lines in violation of the Mann Act, the cries increased for a white champion to "take back" the title.

In Sidney, boxing was a popular sport. Local matches were often held in a makeshift ring set up on the courtsquare. Early local favorites included Will O'Leary, who would later serve as Sidney's police chief for over five decades. One lad showed particular promise. Luther McCarty received his first boxing lesson from Web Sterline at the Young Men's Athletic Association gym in Sidney. Sterline, who was a local sports promoter of sorts, also captained Sidney's first football team. What were the makings of this future champion, Luther McCarty?