James Jeffries , the heavyweight champion from 1899 to 1905 , refused to fight Johnson .
Johnson had to follow Johnson 's predecessor Tommy Burns to fights around the world and taunt him for years Johnson he accepted the bout .
James Jeffries , the heavyweight champion from 1899 to 1905 , refused to fight Johnson , and Johnson had to follow his predecessor Tommy Burns to fights around the world and taunt him for years before he accepted the bout .