U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday granted a rare posthumous pardon to boxing's first black heavyweight champion, clearing Jack Johnson's name more than 100 years after what many see as his racially charged conviction. "I am taking this very righteous step, I believe, to correct a wrong that occurred in our history and to honour a truly legendary boxing champion," Trump said during an Oval Office ceremony. He was joined by WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, retired heavyweight titleholder Lennox Lewis and actor Sylvester Stallone, whom Trump credited with championing the pardon. Trump said Johnson had served 10 months in prison "for what many view as a racially motivated injustice." Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson.

Source: CBC News May 25, 2018 00:44 UTC