HARRY WILLS, MOST FAMOUS UNCROWNED CHAMP, DIES
Harry Wills, the famed "Black Panther" who tried vainly for six frustrating years to get a crack at Jack Dempsey's world heavyweight title, died, last night as perhaps the most famous "uncrowned champion" in the history of boxing.
Wills,68, died at 6:30 p.m. in Jewish Memorial Hospital where he was admitted December 8 with a an acute case of appendicitis. A hospital spokesman said Wills died of diabetes with his daugther, Mrs. Gladys Napolean, and her husband at his bedside.
Wills remains were laid out in the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Parlor at 72nd Street in New York City and final funeral arrangements were to be announced today.
A strapping 6-foot 2, 220 pound giant in his prime, Wills is remembered in boxing history as the man the great Dempsey should have fought-but never did. For six years, from 1920 to 1926, Wills hounded Dempsey for a chance at the title but circumstances prevented the match.
"My only regret in life is that I never got a shot at Dempsey," Wills often recalled. "I'm sure I could have beaten him."
Dempsey himself was willing to meet Wills but Tex Rickard, the great promoter, and Dempsey's handlers feared a "mixed match" for the heavyweight title in view of the unfavorable public reaction to the reign of Jack Johnson as heavyweight champion. Wills once was given a $50,000 guarantee to meet Dempsey but the match fell through because the independent promoter was unable to guarantee the champion the money he demanded.
Dempsey fought Gene Tunney in Philadelphia, Sept. 23, 1926, because the New York State Boxing Commission refused him a match in New York if he did not fight Wills. Dempsey lost his title in that match and of course, failed to regain it in the famous "long count" bout , Sept. 1927.
-Fred Down. Jersey City Journal. December 22, 1958
WILLS WHO GOT $50,000 for NOT FIGHTING DEMPSEY, DIES
New York, Dec. 22-Harry Wills, the old Brown Panther of the '20's who once received $50,000 for not fighting Jack Dempsey for the heavyweight championship, died Sunday night. He was 66.
Willls was admitted to Jewish Memorial Hospital on Dec. 8 for a series of exploratory tests. Only last Friday an official of the hospital said he was not in critical condition. The primary cause of death was diabetes.
Wills fought more than 100 times in a 21 year career that started in 1911 in his home town, New Orleans.
But he never did get to fight Dempsey for the title. Once contracts were signed but Dempsey's lawyers forfeited his guarantee and Wills collected the $50,000.
Wills said later the Dempsey fight never came off because of the racial issue at the time.
"It wasn't Jack's fault," he commented.
Wills retired from the ring in 1932 and in recent years had been in the real estate business in Harlem.
Twenty-two of his fights were with Sam Langford, another of the great heavyweights of the generation. He had a wide edge over Langford, although several of the bouts were listed as no decision.
His biggest payday came Sept. 1924, when he and Luis Angel Firpo fought to no decision in Jersey City. He received $150,000 for that one.
Wills attracted almost as much attention with his annual one month fasts as his ring activities. For almost half a century, he avoided all solid food for one month a year "to burn off impurities", as he put it. During his fasts he drank only water.
-Associated Press. December 22, 1958
RITES FRIDAY FOR HARRY WILLS
Funeral services for Harry Wills, the heavyweight contender of the Golden Twenties, will be held Friday.
The old Brown Panther of the ring died Sunday night from diabetes. He was 66.
Services will be held Friday at the Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetary in the Bronx.
-Associated Press. December 23, 1958