Jess Willard

v.

Jack Dempsey

July 4, 1919

Maumee, Ohio

The scene at the end of the first round. Champion Jess Willard is down in the corner for what was the seventh time in the round. Referee Ollie Pecord moves toward Willard.

On far side of the ring Manager Jack Kearns is leaping through the ropes to send Dempsey quickly from the ring.

Prior to the fight the United Marine Corp Color Guard performed in the ring

and in the process badly damaged the ring canvas. With the fight only minutes away a new canvas was stretched over the original. While stretching the canvas the ring bell was covered over, muting the sound.

Thus ,a tthis moment in time Referee Pecord and Dempsey do not know the round has ended. It appeared Jack Kearns was aware of the elapsed time and was thus about to rush Dempsey from the ring and claim

a first round knockout victory. Kearns was to later claim he had bet Dempsey's entire purse of $10,000 at ten to one odds on a first round knockout.

The round was declared over saving Willard from the knockout and Kearns hustled Dempsey back into the ring; the fight contined two more rounds and with Jess Willard unable to

answer the bell for round four Dempsey won the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

He and Jack Kearns had the Championship and were flat broke.

Vintage Original Photographic Print

Price: $ 45.00

Size: 8 1/2 X 11 inches

Condition: Fair. Cellophane tape residue with some paper loss in the white margin area top and bottom

1500-0219

Shipping and Handling $10.00 in the United States. $20.00 to foreign destinations.

Click Here for Payment Options

Click Here to Return to the Antiquities of the Prize Ring Homepage