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Jess Williard... Jack Johnson...
Jess Williard... Jack Johnson...
Item # 598529
April 05, 1915
THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, Atlanta, Georgia, April 5, 1915
* Jess Williard - "The Great White Hope"
* Jack Johnson
* Heavyweight boxing title fight (pre-fight reporting)
Page 6 has a three column headline: "Heavies Ready for Title Bout" with subhead: "Johnson And Willard Ready For Gong That Sends Them To Battle" and tale of the tape (see photos). They would fight on this day.
Other news of the day. Light browning with some margin wear, mostly along the spine, should be handled with care.
wikipedia notes: Jess Willard (December 29, 1881 in the town of St. Clere, Pottawatomie County, Kansas – 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[citation needed] , but Willard is widely regarded as winning fairly. Willard said, "If he was going to throw the fight, I wish he'd done it sooner. It was hotter than hell out there."
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".
Category: The 20th Century
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