After reviewing the significance of race and celebrity in comparative law, this examination details the legal encounters plaguing former world heavyweight champion boxer, Texan Arthur John (Jack) Johnson. On Boxing Day 1908 ‘Papa’ Jack became the first Afro-American to successfully cross the colour line by defeating Canadian Tommy Burns in the unlikely venue of Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. On returning to the United States, and successfully defending his title against ‘Gentleman’ James J. Jeffries, the federal government commenced a protracted series of legal interventions, virtually ending Johnson’s professional sports career. The legal relationships between the federal ‘white slavery’ and ‘fight film’ prohibitions are documented, illustrating the combination of paternalistic racial, moral and commercial justifications levelled against Johnson and images of his prize-fighting exploits. Various legal and bureaucratic implications of this multi-faceted purge within and beyond early modern sport, entertainment and film are also discussed.