Jess-Willard
Jess Willard, born December 29, 1881 in St. Clere, Kansas in rural Pottawatomie County - died December 15, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, was a world Heavyweight boxing champion.
A working cowboy, he did not begin boxing until he was almost thirty years old.
Despite his late start, Jess Willard proved successful as a boxer, defeating top-ranked opponents to earn a chance to fight for the championship. On April 5, 1915 in front of a huge crowd at the Vedado Racetrack in Havana, Cuba, in the 26th round he knocked out champion Jack Johnson to win the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship.
Johnson spread rumors that he took a dive, but Willard is widely regarded as winning fairly. Johnson found that he could not knock out the giant Willard, who fought as a counterpuncher, making Johnson do all the leading. Johnson began to tire after the 20th round, and was visibly hurt by heavy body punches from Willard in rounds preceding the 26th round knockout. Following the fight, Willard was heralded as "The Great White Hope".
At 6' 6 1/2" (2.04 m) and 245lbs, Jess Willard was the tallest and largest heavyweight champion in boxing history,until the 270lbs Primo Carnera won the title. The 37-year-old champion lost his title to Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1919 in Toledo, Ohio. Dempsey knocked Willard down for the first time in his career with a left hook in the first round. Dempsey knocked Willard down 7 times in the first round, winning the title when Willard was unable to continue after the third round. In the fight Willard suffered a broken jaw, cheekbone, and ribs as well as losing several teeth.
Willard parlayed his boxing fame into an acting career of a sort. He acted in a vaudeville show, had a role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and starred in a 1919 feature film The Challenge of Chance. In 1933, he appeared in a bit part in a boxing movie, The Prizefighter and the Lady, with Max Baer and Myrna Loy.
On his passing in 1968, Jess Willard was interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
In 2003, he was inducted posthumously into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Source : Wikipedia
Jess Willard, The Pottawatomie Giant: The World Heavyweight ...
Willard was one of the oddest boxers to ever bear the distinction of World Champion. Continue reading
Jess Willard [between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915] 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. Notes: Title from unverified data provided by the Bain News Service on the negatives or caption cards. Forms part of: George Grantham Bain ... Continue reading
Jess Willard (LOC) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
... Emanuel Steward and Jim Lampley kept saying pacquiao is a southpaw jack dempsey in the feathweright divison, remember when he hit Lucero? and wobbled him Pacquiao was going to finish him off it looked like Jess Willard vs Dempsey. ... Continue reading
Jack Dempsey… Student of Fighting… “Mixed Martial Artist ...
Sanaa Lathan; Omar Epps; Glenndon Chatman; Jess Willard; Chris Warren Jr. Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood. Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1. Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Brand: NEW Line Home Video ISBN: 0780631714 ... Continue reading
Love and Basketball | Best Buy Product Review
On July 4, 1919, Jack Dempsey met Jess Willard for the heavyweight championship of the world in Toledo, Ohio. It was an extremely brutal fight, with Dempsey delivering a terrible beating to his opponent, who suffered a broken jaw, ... Continue reading
Ten Best Colorful Boxing Nicknames
In July 1919 Jack Dempsey took the title from Jess Willard. It was a display of speed, Power and ferocity that has never been surpassed and made Dempsey a ring legend. The fight was held in a purpose built timber stadium and took place ... Continue reading
Jack Dempsey Vs Jess Willard – The Birth of a Legend
New image sent in by a reader: Related posts: Why did Bill Parcels let Emmit Smith, one of the greatest Cowboy's ever, go and pick up Eddie George? Arizona Cardinals Tickets- James Wants Out, Turned Down; Bill Parcells – the Big Tuna in ... Continue reading
Bill James, Eddie Campi, Jess Willard (LOC)
On Monday, April 5, 1915, a boxing reign as a champion came to an end in a bout from Havana, Cuba. It was on this day that Jack Johnson defended his heavyweight title against Jess Willard in a scheduled 45-round fight at Vedado ... Continue reading
Basic Bloganomics: Jess Willard Dethrones Jack Johnson on April 5 ...
Daniel J Foster asked: In July 1919 Jack Dempsey took the title from Jess Willard. It was a display of speed, Power and ferocity that has never been. Continue reading
Jack Dempsey Vs Jess Willard – The Birth of a Legend | Fitness ...
The Manassa Mauler Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard 24 year old, 6′1″, 180 lb challenger Dempsey vs 37 year old, 6′6½”, 245 lb Heavyweight Champion Willard. July 4th, 1919, Toledo, Ohio. Round 1. Worst beating a champion ever took. ... Continue reading
The Manassa Mauler Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard
 |  |  |