Jack Johnson As Usual Did Not Train Hard Enough For Willard27th of June 1914 in Paris Jack Johnson won on points over 20 rounds in a fight with Frank Moran. Most of the spectators were disappointed in the champions defensive tactics where he would hold his opponent and land uppercuts to the head and body. Moran rallied in round 19. Both boxers tried vainly for a knockout in the last round but they were too exhausted to produce any kind of successful offense. As 1915 approached Jack was guaranteed $30,000 to defend his title in Havana, Cuba against Jess Willard. Willard was born in 1883 in Kansas. He started fighting in 1911 at age 28. He had no ferocity, without natural ability, but he did have a punch. He was a giant of a man at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 250 lbs. Jess Willard had previously lost a 20 round decision to Gunboat Smith and was stopped by Bearcat McMahan in twelve rounds. Jess Willard made it his duty to trained hard for this match, but Jack Johnson had a bad habit of not taking a fight seriously and with this trait within, Johnson underestimated Jess Willard, therefore, he didn't bother to train. Jess Willard Won The Heavyweight Title By Knocking Out Jack Johnson5th of April 1915 in Havana, Cuba: Johnson vs. Willard. Twenty thousand fans saw the much younger Willard fight the 37 year old champion who was badly out of shape with a roll of fat around his middle. The bout was listed for 45 rounds. It was, for the first nine rounds, a dull fight with neither fighter wanting to do much of anything. Then Finally Jack Johnson started to drive into the lead with sharp punches. But even though for the next ten rounds Johnson soundly out boxed Jess Willard, he was unable to knock him out. Jack Johnson was too drained to press home the attack. His efforts was too feeble and to no avail. Jess Willard suddenly got stronger to take the lead in the latter rounds. Jess Willard, was a slough in the in the but nonetheless, Willard was able to finally throw some very hard blows that got through Johnson's defense to the head and body. In the 26th round, Johnson was overly fatigued, a solid right to the head put Jack out his miseries. A New Jack Came On The Heavyweight Boxing Scene: Jack DempseyJack Johnson immediately after the fight said: "Willard was too much for me. I just didn't have it. It was the case of a younger, stronger, better conditioned fighter winning." Came the 25th of March 1916 in Madison Square Garden, New York Jess Willard defended title against Frank Moran, a 200 lb rugged ex sailor. The fight lasted ten dull rounds. Frank Moran was unable to land any real blow on Jess Willard. In compliance with New York's boxing regulations at that time, a "no decision" was rendered since there was no knockout or foul. Jess Willard said that he might never fight again with that statement he joined a wild west show. Out of the shadows came another Jack. Jack Dempsey, born 1895 in Manassa, Colorado, was to be the next great fighter after Jack Johnson. He fought in back rooms of saloons and dance halls. At six feet tall, and weighed 185 lbs. he was an aggressive, two-fisted, attacking fighter; the kind that fans love to watch. In his early days he was always in shape, fought almost every day. Jack Dempsey never drank or smoked. Dempsey Became World Heavyweight Champ On 4th July 1919Jess Willard came back to the boxing ring to defended his heavyweight boxing title against Jack Dempsey .Most boxing experts believed that Jess Willard was too big and strong for Jack Dempsey. But Jack Dempsey had other ideas as he and his manager put up a side bet of $10,000 at odds of ten to one that he would knock out Jess Willard in the first round. This was all the money they had. Jack Dempsey came out bobbing and weaving and almost immediately knocked Willard down. In one of the most savaged attack ever seen in the boxing ring. Jack Dempsey knocked Jess Willard down seven times in the first round. Jack Dempsey must have felt his bet was safe when the count from the last knockdown reached ten at the same time the as the gong went off to end round one. Most people believed that the fight was over. Jack Dempsey and most of the crowd were leaving the arena when the referee called Dempsey back. After some delay, the fight resumed. Jess Willard got in one good uppercut that shook Jack Dempsey in the second round. Jess Willard received a broken jaw, several broken teeth, a smashed nose, and at least one broken rib. Pain ridden Jess Willard had been savaged by Dempsey in the boxing ring. |
Willard Believed Jack Dempsey Gloves Was Loaded.This was probably the most brutal heavyweight championship title fight on record. Jess Willard had received so much punishment, from that fight with Jack Dempsey that it was rumoured, and later repudiated by one of Jack's handlers, that Jack Dempsey had applied plaster of paris to his hands and for the rest of Jess Willard life he believed that Jack Dempsey had fought with plaster of paris inside of his gloves. In those times referees nor officials did not check out whether a fighter had loaded gloves. But since that fight between Willard and Dempsey, it was made official that referees always check the boxers gloves before a fight. | |
