Today, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Halifax, commemorated the national historic significance of George Dixon with a plaque unveiling ceremony at the Africville Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, in partnership with the Africville Museum.
George Dixon was a prominent African Canadian boxer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Africville, Halifax, Nova Scotia, he overcame racial prejudice and discrimination to become the first fighter to win world titles in multiple weight classes and the first to have multiple reigns with a world title. He was the first Black boxer and first Canadian to win a world title. Dixon shattered racial barriers and defied odds carving out a successful career that spanned three decades, several weight classes, and saw him fight in North America and in Europe.
Dixon's innovative training style included using hand weights, a speed bag attached to the floor to improve footwork and hitting a heavy bag. Most notably, he developed shadowboxing - a technique involving punching and dodging an imaginary opponent. Shadowboxing represented a significant innovation to the training regimen of boxers and is used widely in the sport today.
George Dixon's legacy extends beyond the ring. Dixon used his popularity to expand the rights of not only other athletes, but also audiences. He regularly got promoters of his fights to reserve seats for Black fans, a practice which was unheard of at the time.
