[Tao_Moko]

I have been trying to decide if boxing should be considered more progressive compared to baseball up to the landmark signing of Jackie Robinson. Not that it was not filled with hatred and well known controversy and unfair road blocks, but worldwide, men of color competed against white fighters and not restricted to their own race well before baseball integrated. The terrible racism, fear and cowardice of many fighters did restrict opportunity so not suggesting this as a success story. Anyway, is it common knowledge that Johnson seemed to follow in the similar footsteps of Bill Richmond? Unapologetic, determined against huge odds, married to a white woman, evasive counter puncher(criticized for his style) and dapper. One a slave and the other a son of slaves. You guys probably are well schooled in this and it's old news but I'm curious as to what the general mentality is in regards to "blacks" fighting "whites" at a time they were not even permitted to compete in other sports. The "" are in reference to the stat backs of many prewar cards that oddly state the obvious by mentioning race. There are pictures or depictions of the fighters on the flip side for gods sake!

Was boxing progressive pre WWI and II?
Was Johnson aware of Richmond preceding his style?
Good resources for this topic?