Jess Willard

&

Manager Tom Jones

1914

Knoblock Ranch

El Paso, Texas

Originally the fight between Jack Johnson and Jess Willard for the World Heavyweight Championship was scheduled to be held at a race track in Juarex, Mexico . The date set was 6 March 1915.

Jess Willard proceeded to the Knoblauch Ranch in El Paso, Texas to begin training.

Mexico in early 1915 was country divided the famous, some said infamous, Francisco " Poncho" Villa controlled Northern Mexico in which Juarez is located. Always, open to publicity Villa welcomed the fight.

Unfortunately, in order to get to Juarez from Cuba where Johnson had landed from Europe the Champion would have to make port at Vera Cruz or Tampico, both under the control of Villa's rival

General Venustiano Carranza. Carranaza not wishing to give Villa additonal publicity announced that if Johnson made port in the territory his forces controlled they would arrest him and turn him over

to the American authorities.

Thus, ultimately the fight was made of 15 April 1915 in Habana, Cuba.

Vintage Original M.Rol Studio of Paris Photograph

Price: $245.00

Condition: NM 7 mild surface corner crease upper left. Visible primarily in "raked" light.

Size: 5 1/8 X 7 1/8 inches.

1500-0014

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

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