NationMaster - Encyclopedia: 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Jesswillard1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Jesswillard1. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Pottawatomie County (standard abbreviation: PT) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area - City 1290. ... This is a chronological list of world heavyweight boxing champions, as recognized by the following organizations: The World Boxing Association (WBA), founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), The World Boxing Council (WBC), founded in 1963, The International Boxing Federation (IBF), founded in 1983, The World Boxing Organization...

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. April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the Cuban city. ... John Arthur Johnson(March 31, 1878 â€“ June 10, 1946), better known as Jack Johnson and nicknamed the Galveston Giant, was an American boxer and arguably the best heavyweight of his generation. ...

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' 7 1/2" (2.04 m), Jess Willard was the tallest heavyweight champion in boxing history,until 6' 8" 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. Primo Carnera (October 26, 1906 â€“ June 29, 1967) was an Italian boxer who became the World Heavyweight champion. ... William Harrison Jack Dempsey (June 24, 1895 â€“ May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title between 1919 and 1926, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest champions of all time. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Nickname: The Glass City Location in the state of Ohio Country United States State Ohio County Lucas Mayor Carty Finkbeiner (D) Area - City 217. ...

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. Vaudeville is a style of multi-act theatre which flourished in North America from the 1880s through the 1920s. ... Buffalo Bill Cody Buffalo Bill (February 26, 1846 â€“ January 10, 1917) was born William Frederick Cody in the American state of Iowa, near Le Claire . ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: no content If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... Maximilian Adelbert Madcap Maxie Baer Cussen (February 11, 1909 â€“ November 21, 1959) was a famous jewish-American boxer of the 1930s, onetime Heavyweight Champion of the World, and actor. ... Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905 â€“ December 14, 1993) was an American motion picture actress. ...

On his passing in 1968, Jess Willard was interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles, California, on the south edge of the San Fernando Valley by Burbank (and on the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood). ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area - City 1290. ...

In 2003, he was inducted posthumously into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ...

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