MPT and PBS Reno Announce Documentary on Boxing Champ Joe Gans
Film to explore the life and legacy of the first Black athlete to cross the nation’s racial divide
OWINGS MILLS, MD (JAN 30, 2026) – Maryland Public Television (MPT), PBS Reno, and214 Films, in association with Gold Creek Films, have partnered to develop the documentary The Longest Fight, chronicling the life and legacy of Joe Gans, the first Black boxing champion. The feature film, in pre-production, is based on the critically acclaimed book of the same title by the late award-winning Washington Post sportswriter William Gildea, and will explore Gans' life from a waif on the Baltimore waterfront to becoming the first Black athlete to successfully cross the nation’s gaping racial divide, blazing a trail for many of America’s most notable sports figures including Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali.
Executive produced by boxing historian Frank Stallone, directed by Zatella Beatty, and produced by Ted Faye, the film explores Gans’ rise at the turn of the 20th century, his mastery of the sport that earned him the nickname “The Old Master,” and the broader social forces that shaped — and ultimately obscured — his legacy. Despite being widely regarded by boxing historians as one of the greatest technical fighters of all time, Gans’ contributions to the sports world have remained largely absent from mainstream American history.
In conjunction with the documentary, the Nevada Land Trust and Our Story, Inc. are also supporting the development of a historical park in Goldfield, Nevada to commemorate the original site of Gans’ pivotal 1906 championshipboxing match against Oscar “Battling” Nelson. Promoted as a “battle of the races,” the forty-two-round fight, lasting two hours and forty-eight minutes, became the longest boxing match of the 20th century and one of the most significant sporting events of its time. Located in the center of what has already been designated as a National Historic District by the National Park Service, the park will serve as a permanent educational landmark, recognizing both Gans’ and Goldfield’s roles in early American sports and cultural history.
“By pairing the documentary with a historical park, we are grounding Joe Gans’ story in the very place where history happened — restoring both visibility and context to an overlooked American pioneer,” said Stallone. “The partnership reflects a shared commitment to public-service storytelling that emphasizes historical accuracy, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Together, the film and the Gans Historical Park aim to reintroduce Joe Gans as not only a boxing legend, but a foundational figure in the broader American narrative.”
More information about The Longest Fight can be found at https://joegansproject.com
About PBS Reno
In fiscal year 2024-2025, PBS Reno reached 592,189 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member offering entertaining and educational content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices via its online video player and the free PBS app. A state agency operating under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, MPT also produces local, regional, and national programming and frequently earns regional Emmy® awards for its work. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through its Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources covering a wide range of topics. More information is available at mpt.org.
About 214 Films
214 Films is a documentary production company focused on culturally significant stories at the intersection of history, sports, and social impact, with an emphasis on restoring overlooked legacies.
About Gold Creek Films
Gold Creek Films is a Las Vegas-based independent production company dedicated to historically grounded storytelling with a focus on place, memory, and untold American stories.
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Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503