THE ROCK ISLAND DAILY UNION, Illinois, April 5, 6, & 7, 1915  This consecutive three-issue set captures the explosive aftermath of one of the most culturally significant and heavily anticipated boxing matches in heavyweight history. The front page of the April 5th issue features a bold banner headline announcing the historic upset: "JESS WILLARD IS NEW WORLD'S CHAMPION", with prominent subheads reading: "Jack Johnson Loses The Championship Title Today", "Kansas Cowboy Leads in Fighting All Through the Bout", and "Knockout Comes In 26th Round". The front page also showcases a large photo boldly captioned: "The White Man's Hope Who Made Good Today", leading into nearly three full columns of a gripping, round-by-round account of the match that carries over to page 7. The accompanying issues of April 6 and 7 continue the extensive follow-up coverage and public reaction to the fight.

The historical significance of this specific trilogy of newspapers is deeply rooted in the intense racial politics of early 20th-century America. Jack Johnson had become the first African American heavyweight champion in 1908, a feat that triggered a frantic, years-long search by the white establishment for a "Great White Hope" to reclaim the title. This report chronicles the exact moment that search ended in Havana, Cuba, when the 6-foot-6 "Kansas Cowboy" Jess Willard knocked out an aging Johnson in the grueling 26th round of a scheduled 45-round bout. It stands as a remarkable artifact documenting not just a legendary sports milestone, but a pivotal moment in American social and racial history.

Other news, sports, and advertisements of the day are found throughout all three issues.

Complete in three issues, minor edge tears, most pages separated at the spine, toning, and very fragile due to being from the "pulp era" of newsprint, but in good condition for the era and must be handled with care. Great for display.