Black boxer biographer wins top sports award

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) A biography of Jack Johnson, the world's first black heavyweight boxing champion, was named as Sports Book of the Year.

''Unforgivable Blackness'' by Geoffrey C. Ward tells the story of how American Johnson won the sport's most coveted prize in 1908 but was reviled by his white peers, spent time in jail and seven years in exile.

The William Hill Sports Book Of The Year Award is billed as the world's longest established and richest sporting literary prize. The winner receives 18,000 pounds (34,880 dollar) and a free 2,000 pound bet.

Previous winners over the past 18 years have included Nick Hornby's soccer saga ''Fever Pitch'' and the horse racing tale ''Seabiscuit'' by Lauren Hillenbrand.

REUTERS PM ND1052