He claimed the reason the dive happened in round twenty-six was that he was waiting for a sign from his wife that the agreed upon sum of fifty thousand dollars was in her possession. Firpo, however, was a wrecking machine. Johnson later claimed to have intentionally lost the fight, despite the fact there is evidence of Willard winning fairly, which can be seen clearly in the recorded footage, as well as the comments Johnson made to his cornermen between rounds and immediately after the fight, and that he bet $2500 on himself to win. Race riots after the Johnson-Jeffries bout all I can say is wow. "Other reports also make it clear that Willard was not as severely injured as has been claimed. But now I cant find it anywhere! No films of the fight were allowed to be shown in the United States because of an inter-state ban on the trafficking of fight films that was in effect at the time. For the July Fourth event, he created an octagonal outdoor arena made from Michigan white pine. As the bouts referee, Jack Welch, stated: In the thirteenth and fourteenth, I was almost sure Johnson would knock Willard out, but Willard showed that his jaw and body were too tough. The day was July 4th 1919 in Toledo Ohio. That provided a reprieve for Willard and forced Dempsey to return for Round 2. Willard was known for size rather than skill, and though held the championship for more than four years, he defended it rarely. Bruce Davison; . Jess Willard, the Comeback Kid, had won on a TKO. He won the heavyweight title from Jack Johnson in April 1915 which earned him the nickname "The Great White Hope". The champion then lay down and took the count. View the profiles of professionals named "Jess Willard" on LinkedIn. Jess Willard Legendary Heavyweight Champion Vol.17 17,728 views Jan 5, 2014 166 Dislike Share Save EJ Boxing Live!! Jess lost his first exhibition bout in the 3rd round, but won his 2nd bout in the 6th. Films that achieved wide-release status after initial release; Opening Title Production company Cast and crew Genre A P R I L 4: Are We Done Yet? [2] Willard was of entirely English ancestry, which had been in America since the colonial era. Bloodied and battered with fractures in his cheekbone, nose and ribs, plus several teeth knocked out, Willard persevered through the third round, but he and his team literally threw in the towel when the dazed champ was called to his feet for the fourth round. The 66 and 235 pound fighter gained his notoriety when he fought a fighter named Jack Bull Young in 1913. At age 37, Willard lost his title to Jack Dempsey on July 4, 1919, in Toledo. War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945 Branch of Service: Navy Location of Service: Great Lakes, Illinois; Pleasanton, California; Pacific Highest Rank: Shipfitter Second Class View full service history Share About this Item Title Jess Willard Roberts Collection Names Bard, Shirley AARP, Encinitas, California, Chapter 239 Roberts, Jess Willard Historian Tedd Long explained what happened at the fight that was billed as the match of the century. 1948 Leaf. In the fight, Willard was later reputed to have suffered a broken jaw, cheekbone, and ribs, as well as losing several teeth. [13] However, after Willard took a beating for several rounds, he came back to knock down Johnson in the 9th and 11th rounds, and Willard earned a TKO victory. It remains one of the biggest and most significant bouts in boxing history, albeit for all the wrong reasons, and while white America steadfastly believed the Caucasian challenger would put an end to their national nightmare, instead a grinning Johnson dominated and humiliated Jeffries, the much ballyhooed bout a complete mismatch. Willard fought just twice after nearly being killed by Dempsey, winning one and losing the other. 85 people named Jess Willard found in California, North Carolina and 26 other states. Jess McMahon had an extraordinary of creating excitement among audiences for a wrestling match and he is very well known for this skill. The legendary fight still lives in the image created by Flagg. At 6 ft 6 12 in (1.99 m) and 235 lb (107 kg), Willard was the tallest and the largest heavyweight champion in boxing history, until the 270 pounds (120 kg) Primo Carnera won the title on June 29, 1933, and the 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) Vitali Klitschko won the WBC title in 2004 and the 7 ft Nikolai Valuevwon the WBA title in 2005. The Fight. Although his career as a recording artist lasted less than ten years, Jess Willard, a self-described "plain country boy," is remembered fondly for his cheerful personality as well as "Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor," which became a minor rockabilly standard. The book Jess Willard: Heavyweight Champion of the World described the aftermath: A sports writer for the St. Louis Times reported, "thousands and thousands of fight fans as well as thousands and thousands of ordinary citizens flooded the downtown streets waiting for the decision." When they heard Willard had won, "they acted like crazy people." Required fields are marked *. The former champ, who lost the title to Gene Tunney in 1926, opened a Manhattan restaurant, which bore his name, and commissioned this portrait, which graced the walls of the restaurant for three decades. To lose his world title to a fighter widely viewed as not being in in his league must have been exceptionally painful for a man as confident and proud as Johnson clearly was. A severely broken jaw was just one of the wounds Willard suffered during the fight. (Kansas City Star, July 10, 1919, p. 10).Later, according to a reporter for the Topeka Daily Capital, July 16, 1919, p. 8, who interviewed Jess when he got back to Lawrence, "The ex-champion didn't have any black eye, nor any signs that he was injured in any way. The former cowboy didnt start his boxing career until he was 27 years old, over the hill by todays standards. [13] In 1933, he appeared in a bit part in a boxing movie, The Prizefighter and the Lady, with Max Baer and Myrna Loy.[13]. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Illinois Wabash County Mount Carmel Highland Memorial Cemetery Jess Willard Carnahan He just got old, and from what I read, he really didnt train for this fight, believing his reputation would carry him to victory. Indeed,. "The Galveston Giant" was renowned for his technical skill and ring smarts. 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. Willard held the championship for more than four years. offers a series of virtual visits to the National Portrait Gallery. Alice George, Ph.D. is an independent historian with a special interest in America during the 1960s. 28 1946, , , ) . Flagg is best known for his World War I Uncle Sam poster, I Want You.. He lost the title in 1919 in Toledo, Ohio to Jack D. We still suffer a lot from racism here in America. Your email address will not be published. I was champion for four years and I assure you that they'll never have to give a benefit for me. Records: 74. Jess Willard was born December 29, 1881 (not 1883) in St. Clere, Kansas. The 6'6 and 235 pound fighter gained his notoriety when he fought a fighter named Jack "Bull" Young in 1913. Under the amboyant and often unscrupulous management of Jack "Doc" Kearns, Dempsey had piled up an impressive string of winsoften first-round knockoutsand Jess Willard, the mountainous, 36-year-old champion, had finally been cajoled and bullied into defending his title against the aggressive 24-yearold. By this time Willard was already in his 80s and provided some further insight into the true extent of his injuries and the . This is the rare instance where a boxer claimed a fight was fixed, when in fact it was free of any chicanery whatsoever. He was known for his great strength and ability to absorb tremendous punishment, although today he is also known for his title loss to Jack Dempsey. Burning with comeback fever, Willard shed 20 pounds, trained seriously, and appeared leaner than he had since his championship days. By the middle rounds, the 41-year-old Willard appeared to tire, but he rallied back and dropped Johnson briefly in the ninth. In his teenage years and twenties he worked as a cowboy. A recent episode, At Home in the GalleryThe Dempsey-Willard Fight, casts new light on how visitorswhether virtual or in-personcan appreciate the painting that captures a moment in that day. Johnson later acknowledged lying about the throwing the fight after footage of the fight was made widely available in the United States. He lost the title to Jack Dempsey in 1919 in one of the most severe beatings ever in a championship bout. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon on the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. While Willard was charged with second-degree murder, he fought the charges in court and won. When boxer Jack Dempsey entered the championship match on the Fourth of July 1919, he faced a 6-foot 7-inch, 240-pound incredible hulk with a reach of almost seven feet. He boxed under the name of "Young Jess Willard" His wife Blonnie Mae Parham Burkhalter was his trainor/ manager, One of the first woman managers . Dempsey did not grant Willard a return match, and at 42 years old he was KO'd, following which he retired from boxing, although for the rest of his life continued claiming Dempsey had cheated. Its no question he made the story up. The first member of the Willard family arrived in Virginia in the 1630s. When the fight was over and he was looked at by physicians, it was determined that he had a broken cheek bone, caved-in by Dempsey as well as broken ribs and permanent hearing loss. Willard followed up this victory by facing contender Luis ngel Firpo on July 12, 1923. 154 Jess Willard Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE Collections Project #ShowUs Creative Insights Custom Content EDITORIAL VIDEO BBC Motion Gallery NBC News Archives MUSIC BLOG BROWSE PRICING BOARDS CART SIGN IN Editorial Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports He was born in St. Clere, Kansas, USA on December 29, 1881. [10], After losing his title fight with Dempsey, Willard went into semiretirement from the ring, fighting only exhibition bouts for the next four years. Jess Willard(December 29, 1881 - December 15, 1968) was a world heavyweight boxing champion known as the Pottawatomie Giant who knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title. Wilder usually comes in lighter but was bulked up for this fight. \"Youth,\" wrote Damon Runyon in the New York American, \"take off your hat and bow low and respectfully to Age.\" The Last Stand Willard was then matched with Firpo, who had knocked out Jack McAuliffe in three rounds on the same card. Exhausted and hurting, Johnson reportedly told his corner before the bell for round twenty-six, Take my wife away Tell her Im awful weak and I want her to leave. His spouses abrupt departure would serve as a pretext for Johnsons later claims of having taken a dive. Born Jess Willard Griffin, 28 March 1916, Washburn, Texas Died 26 May 1959, Auburn, California. At one point Dempsey left the ring mistakenly thinking the fight was over, and under the rules could have been disqualified, but Willard had economised by not employing professional cornermen and they failed to insist on application of the regulations. Indeed, Willards victory remains one of the biggest upsets in the sports history. Unbelievably, the fight lasted till the start of the 4th round when Willard failed to leave his corner. Wilder is a Luis Firpo type, but Fury would beat Dempsey. Shortly after the fight rumors of foul play from Dempsey's corner began to spread. Look at the Resto vs Collins fight in 1983, especially the pictures of Collins afterwards. Fueled by ferocity, the 24-year-old challenger toppled Willard seven times in the first round and went on to capture the world title. Johnson's claim of a "dive" gained momentum because most fans only saw a still photo of Johnson lying on the canvas shading his eyes from the broiling Cuban sun. The first member of the Willard family arrived in Virginia in the 1630s.[6]. NAPA (CBS SF) - Napa State Hospital patient Jess Willard Massey was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Tuesday morning for murdering a psychiatric technician at the hospital in October . Using fine lead pellets in the knuckles of todays tactical gloves or the railroad spike option all would have the same devastating effect. Dempsey really weighed only 182 when he fought Willard and floored him, reportedly shattering Willard's cheekbone in the process. Did Jack Dempsey cheat against Jess willard? Dempsey knocked Willard down for the first time in his career with a left hook in the first round. He began his boxing career at the late age of 27. He was known as the "Watanabe Giant", for a time in HX the tallest EX Heavyweight champions. I sincerely wish Dempsey all the luck possible and hope that he garnishes all the riches that comes with the championship. It captures the sense of a mass of humanity watching a hard-fought contest colored by the U.S. patriotism of the World War II years, when Flagg painted it. 07-18-2011, 12:25 PM. Instead of judging an individual, lets think about how to end this vicious cycle we are caught up in. Willard followed up this victory by facing contender Luis ngel Firpo on July 12, 1923. The primary appeal of the event was its being a rare opportunity to see in the flesh the famous champion, as Johnson had not defended his title anywhere close to the United States for almost three years. In the 25th round Willard landed a thudding right hand to the chest, knocking the wind out of the champion. His carrer won him approximately 319 bouts. Willard's otherwise modest record crested on April 5, 1915, when he faced the seemingly unbeatable Jack Johnson for the heavyweight championship in Havana, Cuba. (1991) (1991), (1991) . The work by James Montgomery Flagg is a prime choice for education exercises among the gallerys staff. Jess Willard was a 6th great-grandson (9th generation descendant) of the Massachusetts colonist Simon Willard (16051676). The Controversial Naming Of The Hoover Dam. What the crowd didnt know was that they were about to witness one of the worst beatings any fighter would take in the history of the sport. Refine Your Search Results All Filters Jess Willard Resides in Ethridge, TN Related To Agnes Willard Also known as Jesse G Willard Includes Address (1) Phone (2) See Results Jess K Willard Resides in Granada, MN Includes Address (1) See Results Jess Willard Toledo hosted the heavyweight boxing match between Jack Dempsey and Jess Willard in 1919. Now it was Willard who applied pressure as Johnson stood on increasingly shaky legs; the champions taunts, laughs, and grins vanished. Advertising Notice asst. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Montreal is The Fight City. Nicknamed "Pottawatomie Giant" at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 235 pounds. He was throwing that same left jab & straight right combo all through the fight. The widely held view was that Willard lacked the skill to compete with Johnson and another Great White Hope was about to fall. I watched the proceedings, and the only person who had anything to do with the taping of Jack's hands was Deforest. Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S. Young died of injuries sustained from the fight. Watch the video and see for yourself why this fight is one of the greatest ever fought. [2] On May 12, 1923, promoter Tex Rickard arranged for Willard to make a comeback, fighting Floyd Johnson as part of the first line-up of boxing matches at the newly opened Yankee Stadium in New York City. Am I insane? Chris, Steve, and Jimmy break down the premiere episode of The Last of Us.Join the conversation at streamingthingspod@gmail.comCheck out our YouTube Channel!This month Streaming Things is brought to you by.The K-Stew Patron Saints of Streaming ThingsChester CopperpotTry Before You Deny ProducersRabidDog InABarbieCar, Jose Ruben Cruz Rodriguez, Thomas Alexander, Emmy, Valerie, Stanton . Jess Willard Burkhalter was a well known Champion welterweight Boxer out of Orlando Florida in the Late 1920s and 40s.He began boxing at the early age of 11. Dempsey biographer Roger Kahn reports that promoter George Lewis Tex Rickards efforts to avoid leaving fans thirsty was almost certainly the first major bootlegging operation within dry America.. Willard received 25% of total receipts and one-third of picture privileges. 11.2K subscribers #JessWillard #LegendaryHeavyweightChampion Legendary. [16], In 2003 he was inducted posthumously into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.[4]. Kearns and promoter Tex Rickard booked Dempsey-Willard for Toledo, Ohio, on July 4, 1919. With his solid reputation intact, Willard agreed to fight a new young boxer named Jack Dempsey.Born of mixed heritage and one of 13 siblings, the young fighter was the family protector and became a brawler for money at local pubs and bars. Jess Willard was the reigning world champion and the owner of a brutal reputation. The bell ended the round seconds later while the count was still under way. He married Marie Large on 19 October 1941, in Letcher, Kentucky, United States. Willard was knocked down for the first time in his career during the first round and another seven times before the round was over; some reports claim that he suffered broken ribs, shattered jaw, broken nose, four missing teeth, partial hearing loss in one ear along with numerous cuts and contusions,[4] but these reports are highly disputable. Great article. Initially, Johnson was gracious in defeat. [+] Jess Willard's Capitol recordings comprise one of the best obscure catalogs Bear Family has released. Whites goal is to elicit the skill of close looking, which enables viewers of the painting to see details they might otherwise have overlooked. When he returned, Dempsey recalled later, My own father picked the other fighter to win. Now, hes a lurching, tottering wreck of a man, said an announcer. "[17] In 2020, a television program Antiques Roadshow - Crocker Art Museum (Season 24, Episode 8, Part 2), showed a photograph from his 5 April 1915 championship winning match, and the commemorative pocket watch Willard carried which was estimated to be valued between $15,000 and $50,000. Jess Willard (December 29, 1881 - December 15, 1968) . I have sent many birds home in the same bruised condition that I am in, and now I know how they felt. This could be just a myth, but i've read that in an interview 30 years later willard showed the interviewer a piece of metal or . Hard to believe nowadays. A veteran newspaper editor, she is recently the author of The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn and has authored or co-authored seven other books, focusing on 20th-century American history or Philadelphia history. 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. The Films The Jess Willard-Floyd Johnson fight was filmed, but the knockout footage was either lost or never captured. National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, Ancient DNA Charts Native Americans Journeys to Asia Thousands of Years Ago, Catch a Glimpse of a Rare Green Comet This Month, Ancient DNA Reveals a Genetic History of the Viking Age, See the Face of a Neolithic Man Who Lived in Jericho 9,500 Years Ago, Why the Hunterian Museum Is Removing the Skeleton of 'Irish Giant' Charles Byrne From View. This was reported in the Kansas City Times, July 8, 1919, p. 10 "Willard's Jaw Dislocated.Pacheco and other reporters based the extent of Willards injuries on this widely distributed report by Byrne who was not a physician. Sheltering at home during the Covid-19 crisis, Briana Zavadil White, the gallerys head of education, explains that the painting is a wonderful teaching tool. She describes the work: The setting is outside. Dempseys career was about to go into the next level when the 61, 187 pound Dempsey stepped into the ring to fight Willard in Toledo Ohio on July 4th 1919. Dempsey won in what remains today one of the most savage beatings in boxing history. From the opening bell Willard fought aggressively and dominated the action. New episodes drop bi-weekly, on Tuesdays, through June. [6][7][8] Willard said, "If he was going to throw the fight, I wish he'd done it sooner. He said he started boxing because he did not have much of an education, but thought his size and strength could earn him a good living. Through blood-soaked tears they were mumbled metronomically as he sat slumped on his stool at the end of the 3rd round. Fury at 6'9" weighed in at 273 pounds while Wilder at 6'7" tipped the scales at 254 pounds. And as my eye wanders backward to the far edges of the portrait, I see a sea of people, so many people. The next day, Young was dead. [12] The fight was held at Boyle's Thirty Acres in New Jersey, in front of more than 75,000 spectators. Instead, there were repeated campaigns to find a Great White Hope to set things right, the term itself inspired by Johnsons shocking reign. Jess Willard's first exhibition bouts were in 1911; and so insignificant were they, that names of the opponents were not even recorded. He was known for his great strength and ability to absorb tremendous punishment, although today he is also known for his title loss to Jack Dempsey. It is the racist history of America that must be taken into consideration here. It shows Willard in good form, looking trim and fighting well against the young contender. Late in the 11th round, Willard scored again, decking Johnson with a smashing uppercut. | READ MORE. Kearns had nothing to do with it, so his plaster of Paris story is simply not true. Damon Runyon wrote afterward: "Youth, take off your hat and bow low and respectfully to Age. The Willard-Firpo fight, also seen here, took place at night under the stadium lighting. maintenance at ENCLAVE is presently Jess's occupation. "The swelling over his left eye had entirely disappeared and the only mark he bore was a slight discoloration over the eye and a cut lip." At the municipal stadium in Freeport, Jess promoted his first wrestling event. A powerfully built .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6ft 6+12in (1.99m) and 245lb (111kg), Willard did not begin boxing until the age of 27, but proved successful, defeating top-ranked opponents to earn a chance to fight for the Championship. As far as I know, only a highlight of this fight survives. Mike Tyson, who studied the case in-depth and very thoroughly, later joined Carpenter to discuss the subject. True Willard was twice the boxer Wilder is. Jess Willard was born in Kansas on December 29, 1881. Secure our Border - Nov. 5, 2022. Boxing fans not only wanted to see the fight: They were curious to see whether Dempsey would reach the contests end without suffering a fatal injury. He passed away on 16 Feb 2005 in Caledonia, Racine, Wisconsin. Willard is no Fury, Joshua, or Wilder though. Answer (1 of 2): Jess Willard was White, and was heavyweight champion of the world from 1915-1919, defeating Jack Johnson by Knockout in Havanna, Cuba. Jess Willard, the "Pottawatomie Giant," won the heavyweight title in 1915 with his defeat of Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion. Jess's nickname was "The Pottawatomie Giant". [12] However, after Willard took a beating for several rounds, he came back to knock down Johnson in the 9th and 11th rounds, and Willard earned a TKO victory. A great physical specimen. Consequently, the structure was a clear fire hazard, and no smoking was allowed during the fight. To lose his world title to a fighter widely viewed as not being in in his league must have been exceptionally painful for a man as confident and proud as Johnson clearly was. Willard died in December of 1968, aged 86. Willard parlayed his boxing fame into an acting career of a sort. Man, shut the hell up. The seats oozed sap under the hot July sun, forcing fans to sit on newspapers or cushions. Willard said he started boxing because he did not have much of an education, but thought his size and strength could earn him a good living. Cookie Settings, Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images, NPG, gift of the artist, Everett Raymond Kinstler. Fortunately the footage itself, taken late in the afternoon under clear skies, is well preserved and remarkably good quality. I have invested the money I have made. In an outdoor ring under a blazing sun that raised the temperature to a torrid 110 degrees, Dempsey crouched as he faced champion Jess Willard, who was almost half a foot taller and 58 pounds heavier than he was. That was tested out by heavyweight contender Cleveland Williams in 1964 and proved to be impossible. The first known recorded exhibition bout of Willard's was on February 8, 1911. 3:00 AM. The day he whipped Jack Johnson at Havana he could have given a tough battle to any man who ever held the title. I agree bro. Johnson obviously didnt throw the fight. Johnson vs Willard, scheduled for 45 rounds, was held in Oriental Park in Havana on a bright, scorching hot day. Tyson, a great admirer of Dempsey's, admitted that "he just did whatever Jack Kearns told him to do" and "in those days anything could have happened", for that there was no agency or other legal authority at the time that was officially empowered to oversee and protect fighters from violations of such kind. In August 1913, Willards right upper-cut drove his opponents jaw into his brain, killing him. Ferdie Pacheco expressed the opinion in a book that the surviving photographs of Willard's face during the Dempsey fight indicate fractures to Willard's facial bones suggesting a metal implement, and show he was bleeding heavily. S Willard, take a look at history in its entirety. Boxing career Journalist Jimmy Breslin argued that the Roaring Twenties began on that day in Toledo, when celebrities gathered and a sweat-soaked crowd of thousands enjoyed illegal whiskey as they sat beneath a relentlessly glaring sun. [2] On May 12, 1923, promoter Tex Rickard arranged for Willard to make a comeback, fighting Floyd Johnson as part of the first line-up of boxing matches at the newly opened Yankee Stadium in New York City. Using inquiry, this technique hooks the participants, and soon a conversation between participants and educators is in full swing.. Boxningskarrir. He was known for his great strength and ability to absorb tremendous punishment, although today he is best known for his title loss to Jack Dempsey . The best seats sold for $60 apiece. Famous examples include the second Jack Sharkey vs Primo Carnera match; Jake LaMottas upset loss to Billy Fox; Johnny Saxtons gift decision over Kid Gavilan, and Bruce Seldonhitting the deck after Mike Tyson missed him with a left hook. [12], After losing his title fight with Dempsey, Willard went into semiretirement from the ring, fighting only exhibition bouts for the next four years. At times, Johnson toyed with his opponent, even laughing at Willards lack of ring smarts and technique. In the seventh, he went for the knockout, pinning the hulking challenger in a corner and punishing him with hard shots for the rest of the round. On fight day, as the bronzed Dempsey looked up at Willard, who was the largest heavyweight champion since the Marquess de Queensbury rules were adopted in 1838, I was afraid he was going to kill me, he later said. Jess's early years were spent in Pottawatomie County. Pottawatomie was the name of. He then drew a metal bolt from a cardbox, saying that Dempsey held the bolt in his hand, not within the glove but at the palm of it, attached to the thumb sideways, and used the bolt rather for cutting-and-slicing-like moves to inflict blood-spilling cuts and pain, relinquishing it just as the bout was stopped, and according to Willard, the bolt was found on the floor of the ring at the end of the fight and he kept it. I regard Dempsey and Johnson as the two best heavyweights. This statement is not intended to start an argument, rather, it is intended to provoke thought. Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, California, U.S. Maize Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. Benevolent A.A., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. He was blessed to have an excellent assortment of material to sing -- these songs sparkle both musically and lyrically -- and Willard's irresistible, untrained delivery is a true delight. Jess Myron Willard (December 29, 1881 - December 15, 1968) was an American world heavyweight boxing champion billed as the Pottawatomie Giant [2] [4] who knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title.