View source for Jess Willard

{{short description|American boxer}}
{{for|the English footballer|Jess Willard (footballer)}}
{{Infobox boxer
|name=Jess Willard
|image=Jess Willard 1915.jpg
|caption=Willard in 1915
|realname=Jess Myron Willard
|nickname=Great White Hope<ref name=WhiteHope>{{Cite news | title = 'Great White Hope' Jess Willard Succumbs | newspaper = Ocala Star-Banner | date = December 16, 1968 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19681216&id=xeEpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4001,4475999 | access-date = 2010-04-14}}</ref><br />Pottawatomie Giant<ref name=Cyber>{{Cite web | title = Jess Willard Biography | publisher = cyberboxingzone.com | url = http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/willard.htm | access-date = 2010-04-14}}</ref>
|height= 6 ft 6+1/2 in<ref>{{cite web |title=BoxRec: Jess Willard |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/10602 |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec}}</ref>
|weight=[[Heavyweight]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1881|12|29}}
|birth_place=[[Saint Clere, Kansas]], US
|death_date={{death date and age|1968|12|15|1881|12|29}}
|death_place= [[Los Angeles]], California, US
|style=[[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
|total=34
|wins=25
|KO=20
|losses=7
|draws=2
|}}

'''Jess Myron Willard''' (December 29, 1881 – December 15, 1968) was an American world heavyweight boxing champion billed as the '''Pottawatomie Giant'''.<ref name=Cyber/><ref name=HOF>{{Cite web | title = HOF Website | publisher = International Boxing Hall of Fame | url = http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/willard.html | access-date = 2010-04-14}}</ref> He won the world heavyweight title in 1915 by knocking out [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]]. 

Willard was known for size rather than skill, and though he held the championship for more than four years, he rarely defended it. In 1919, when he was 37 years old, he lost the title in an extremely one-sided loss by declining to come out for the fourth round against [[Jack Dempsey]], who became a more celebrated champion. Soon after the bout, Willard began accusing Dempsey of using something with the effect of a [[brass knuckles|knuckle duster]]. Dempsey did not grant Willard a return match, and at 42 years old he was KO'd, following which he retired from boxing, although for the rest of his life he continued to claim Dempsey had cheated. [[Ferdie Pacheco]] expressed the opinion in a book that the surviving photographs of Willard's face during the Dempsey fight indicate fractures to Willard's facial bones suggesting a metal implement, and show he was bleeding heavily.{{sfn|Pacheco|2004|pp=17–18}} The matter has never been resolved, with contemporaneous ringside sports journalist reporting in ''The New York Times'' that Willard spat out at least one tooth and was "a fountain of blood" increasingly discounted in favor of a view that he had only a cut lip and a little bruising.{{cn|date=February 2023}}

==Early life==
Jess Myron Willard was born on 29 December 1881 in [[Saint Clere, Kansas]]. In his teenage years and twenties he worked as a [[cowboy]].<ref name=Cyber/> He was of mostly [[English-American|English]] ancestry, which had been in North America since the colonial era. The first member of the Willard family arrived in [[Virginia]] in the 1630s.{{sfn|Mace|1980|p=2}}

==Boxing career==
A powerfully built {{convert|6|ft|6+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|245|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, Willard did not begin boxing until the age of 27, but proved successful, defeating top-ranked opponents to earn a chance to fight for the Championship. He said he started boxing because he did not have much of an education, but thought his size and strength could earn him a good living. He was a gentle and friendly person and did not enjoy boxing or hurting people, so often waited until his opponent attacked him before punching back, which made him feel at ease as if he were defending himself. He was often maligned as an uncoordinated oaf rather than a skilled boxer, but his counter-punching style, coupled with his enormous strength and stamina, proved successful against top fighters. His physical strength was so great that he was reputed to be able to kill a man with a single punch. In a fight with Jack "Bull" Young in 1913, during the ninth round Young collapsed and died from a punch to the head. Willard was charged with second-degree murder, but was successfully defended by lawyer [[Earl Rogers]].
[[File:"Fighter Killed" Los Angeles Record, August 23, 1913.jpg|thumb|After Bull Young was killed by a blow from Jess Willard at [[Vernon Arena]] in 1913, in the 11th round of what was intended to be 20-round fight, [[1914 California Proposition 20|California passed a law]] banning public boxing matches of longer than four rounds]]
[[File:Willard 4626427655 9662f55725 o.jpg|thumb|Willard in 1913]]

===Jack Johnson fight===
On April 5, 1915, in front of a huge crowd at the new [[Oriental Park Racetrack]] in [[Havana]], Cuba, he knocked out champion [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]] in the 26th round to win the world heavyweight boxing championship. Johnson later said he had intentionally lost the fight, despite the fact there is evidence of Willard winning fairly, which can be seen clearly in the recorded footage, as well as the comments Johnson made to his cornermen between rounds and immediately after the fight, and that he bet $2500 on himself to win.{{sfn|Baker|1988}}{{page needed|date=May 2021}}{{sfn|Aycock|Scott|2014}}{{page needed|date=May 2021}}{{sfn|Fleischer|1958|pp= 88-89}} Willard said, "If he was going to throw the fight, I wish he'd done it sooner. It was hotter than hell out there." Johnson later acknowledged lying about throwing the fight after footage of the fight was made widely available in the United States. Shortly after the fight, Jack Johnson had actually accepted defeat gracefully saying, "Willard was too much for me, I just didn't have it."{{sfn|Kent|2005}}{{page needed|date=May 2021}}

Johnson found that he could not knock out the giant Willard, who fought as a [[Counterpunch (boxing)|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. Johnson's claim of a "dive" gained momentum because most fans only saw a still photo of Johnson lying on the canvas shading his eyes from the broiling Cuban sun. No films of the fight were allowed to be shown in the United States because of an inter-state ban on the trafficking of fight films that was in effect at the time. Most boxing fans saw the film of the Johnson–Willard fight only when a copy was found in 1967.

Willard fought several times over the next four years, but made only one official title defense prior to 1919, defeating [[Frank Moran]] on March 25, 1916, at [[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]].
[[File:Panorama of Willard - Johnson fight, Havana, Cuba.jpg|thumb|850px|center|Panorama of Willard's title fight against [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]] in Havana, Cuba, 1915]]

===Jack Dempsey fight===
{{main|Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey}}
[[File:Willard & Dempsey - World Championship Bout - DPLA - 42553ead2e99b0e6a36a1f7fccb5111d (page 1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Willard and Dempsey before the World Championship Bout]]
At age 37, Willard lost his title to Dempsey on July 4, 1919, in [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]. Dempsey knocked Willard down for the first time in his career with a left hook in the first round. Dempsey knocked Willard down seven times in the first round—although it should be remembered that rules at the time permitted standing almost over a knocked-down opponent and hitting him again as soon as both gloves had left the canvas. At one point Dempsey left the ring mistakenly thinking the fight was over, and under the rules could have been disqualified, but Willard had economised by not employing professional cornermen and they failed to insist on application of the regulations.  Dempsey won the title when Willard was unable to continue after the third round. In the fight, Willard was later reputed to have suffered a broken jaw, cheekbone, and ribs, as well as losing several teeth. His attempt to fight to the finish, ending when he was unable to come out for the fourth round, is considered one of the most courageous performances in boxing history. However, the extent of Willard's injuries has been highly disputed and is now unclear since multiple independent reports only a few days after the fight said that there were no traces of any damage other than a couple of bruises:
[[File:Dempsey-Willard battle.jpg|thumb|left|Willard (left) taking a punch to the chin from Jack Dempsey (right).]]
To take only one representative account, according to a reporter for the ''Topeka Daily Capital'', July 16, 1919, p.&nbsp;8, who interviewed Jess when he got back to Lawrence, "The ex-champion didn't have any black eye, nor any signs that he was injured in any way."<ref name="coxscorner.tripod.com">{{cite web |url=http://coxscorner.tripod.com/dempsey_gloves.html |title=Were Dempsey's Gloves Loaded? You Decide! |first1=Monte D. |last1=Cox |first2=John A. |last2=Bardelli |first3=Bob |last3=Caico |first4=Jeff |last4=Cox |first5=Dan |last5=Cuoc |first6=Chuck |last6=Johnston |first7=Clay |last7=Moyle |first8=Frank |last8=Stallone |first9=Miles |last9=Ugarkovich|date=December 1, 2004|access-date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref>
[[File:JessWillard.jpg|thumb|160px|Jess Willard]]

;Concealed metal object theory
When interviewed by [[Harry Carpenter]] of the ''[[BBC Sport]]'' in the 1960s at his house in California, Willard said to the reporter, "I'll show you, how I was beaten." He then drew a metal bolt from a cardbox, saying that Dempsey held the bolt in his hand, not ''within'' the glove but at the palm of it, attached to the thumb sideways, and used the bolt rather for cutting-and-slicing-like moves to inflict blood-spilling cuts and pain, relinquishing it just as the bout was stopped, and according to Willard, the bolt was found on the floor of the ring at the end of the fight and he kept it. [[Mike Tyson]], who studied the case in-depth and very thoroughly, later joined Carpenter to discuss the subject. Tyson, a great admirer of Dempsey's, admitted that "he just did whatever Jack Kearns told him to do" and "in those days anything could have happened", for that there was no agency or other legal authority at the time that was officially empowered to oversee and protect fighters from violations of such kind.  However, footage before the fight shows Dempsey putting on his gloves with no additional objects and in full view of Willard, his team and the crowd.<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=Mike Tyson presents the Heavyweights|type=Television production|orig-year=1988}}</ref>

===Comeback===
After losing his title fight with Dempsey, Willard went into semiretirement from the ring, fighting only exhibition bouts for the next four years.<ref name=Cyber/> On May 12, 1923, promoter [[Tex Rickard]] arranged for Willard to make a comeback, fighting [[Floyd Johnson]] as part of the first line-up of boxing matches at the newly opened [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in New York City.<ref name=Yankees>{{Cite web | title = Willard Helped Raise the Roof at Yankee Stadium | work = ESPN.com | date = 21 September 2008 | url = https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3600048 | access-date = 2010-04-14}}</ref> 63,000 spectators attended the match, which the 41-year-old Willard was widely expected to lose.<ref name=Yankees/> However, after Willard took a beating for several rounds, he came back to knock down Johnson in the 9th and 11th rounds, and Willard earned a TKO victory. [[Damon Runyon]] wrote afterward: "Youth, take off your hat and bow low and respectfully to age. For days and days, the sole topic of conversation in the world of sport will be Willard's astonishing comeback."<ref name=Yankees/>

Willard followed up this victory by facing contender [[Luis Ángel Firpo]] on July 12, 1923.<ref name=Yankees/> The fight was held at [[Boyle's Thirty Acres]] in New Jersey, in front of more than 75,000 spectators. Willard was knocked out in the eighth round, and then permanently retired from boxing.

==Later life==
[[File:The Challenge of Chance (1919) - Ad 4.jpg|170px|thumb|Advertisement for ''The Challenge of Chance'' (1919)]]
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|''Buffalo Bill's Wild West'' show]], and starred in a 1919 feature film ''The Challenge of Chance''.<ref name=IMDb>{{Cite web | title = Jess Willard IMDb Entry | publisher = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929614/ | access-date = 2010-04-14}}</ref> In 1933, he appeared in a bit part in a boxing movie, ''[[The Prizefighter and the Lady]]'', with [[Max Baer (boxer)|Max Baer]] and [[Myrna Loy]].<ref name=IMDb/>

==Death==
Willard died on 15 December 1968, in [[Los Angeles]], California, from congestive heart failure. He had been admitted to a hospital a week earlier for a heart condition, but left against a doctor's advice. He returned again after suffering a stroke and died 12 hours later.<ref name="Kahn">{{cite news |last1=Kahn |first1=Alex |title=Jess Willard Dies, Ex-Boxing Champ |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1898&dat=19681216&id=BwhJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=awUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3826,4605907&hl=en |access-date=2 May 2021 |work=The Norwalk Hour |via=Google News |date=December 16, 1968}}</ref>

Having died at age 86, Willard was the longest-lived heavyweight champion in history until he was surpassed by his old foe [[Jack Dempsey]] (who died in 1983, aged 87), then by [[Jack Sharkey]] (who died in 1994, aged 91), and finally by [[Max Schmeling]] (who died in 2005 at the age of 99). 

Willard's body was buried at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery]], in Los Angeles.

==Tributes==
In 2003 he was inducted posthumously into the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]].<ref name=HOF/>

==Cultural references==
Willard and a dispute he had with [[Harry Houdini]] is the topic of [[Andy Duncan (writer)|Andy Duncan's]] [[Nebula Award]] nominated novella ''The Pottawatomie Giant''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Duncan | first = Andy | author-link = Andy Duncan (writer) | title = The Pottawatomie Giant and Other Stories | publisher = PS Publishing | year = 2012 | location = Hornsea, UK | pages = 308 | isbn = 9781848633094}}</ref> In 2020, a television program ''[[Antiques Roadshow (American TV program)|Antiques Roadshow]] – Crocker Art Museum'' (Season 24, Episode 8, Part 2), showed a photograph from his 5 April 1915 championship winning match, and the commemorative pocket watch Willard carried which was valued at between $15,000 and $50,000.

==Professional boxing record==

===Official record===
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|nc=
|nws=6
|ko-wins=20
|ko-losses=3
|dec-wins=2
|dec-losses=1
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=1
}}
{{clear}}
All [[newspaper decision]]s are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|34
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|22–5–1 {{small|(6)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Luis Angel Firpo]]
|KO
|8 (12), {{small|1:55}}
|12 Jul 1923
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Boyle's Thirty Acres]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–4–1 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Floyd Johnson]]
|TKO
|11 (15)
|12 May 1923
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], [[Bronx]], New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|21–4–1 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack Dempsey]]
|RTD
|3 (12)
|[[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|4 Jul 1919]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Bay View Park Arena, [[Toledo, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost world heavyweight title}}
|-
|31
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|21–3–1 {{small|(6)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Frank Moran]]
|NWS
|10
|25 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|World heavyweight title at stake;<br />(via KO only)}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–3–1 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]]
|KO
|26 (45), {{small|1:26}}
|5 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Oriental Park Racetrack|Oriental Park]], [[Havana]], Cuba}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–3–1 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|KO
|6 (10)
|28 Apr 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Orpheum Theater, [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–3–1 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Dan Dailey
|KO
|9 (10)
|13 Apr 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|27
|style="background:#DDD"|Loss
|18–3–1 {{small|(5)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Tom McMahon
|NWS
|12
|27 Mar 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Grand Opera House, [[Youngstown, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–3–1 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|KO
|9 (20)
|29 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino, [[New Haven, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–3–1 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|George Davis
|KO
|2 (10)
|12 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Broadway Auditorium]], [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|16–3–1 {{small|(4)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|NWS
|10
|3 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–3–1 {{small|(3)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Jack Reed
|TKO
|2 (10)
|24 Nov 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|style="background:#DDD"|Loss
|15–3–1 {{small|(3)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|NWS
|10
|17 Nov 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Elite Rink, [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–3–1 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|11 (20)
|22 Aug 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Pacific A.C., [[Vernon, California|Vernon]], California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Young died of injuries sustained from the fight.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web | url=https://ejmas.com/jcs/velazquez/Muerte2011_pdf_Sep_2011.pdf | title=List of dead boxers | access-date=2024-06-22}}</ref>}}
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–3–1 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Williams
|TKO
|8 (10)
|4 Jul 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Moana Springs Arena, [[Reno, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|19
|{{draw}}Draw
|13–3–1 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Charley Miller
|PTS
|4
|27 Jun 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|18
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–3 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gunboat Smith]]
|PTS
|20
|20 May 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Eighth Street Arena, [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–2 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Jack Leon
|KO
|4 (10)
|5 Mar 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–2 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Bauer
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:50}}
|22 Jan 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–2 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Soldier Kearns
|KO
|8 (10)
|27 Dec 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–2 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Sailor White
|KO
|1 (10)
|2 Dec 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Miller's Hall, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|style="background:#DDD"|Draw
|9–2 {{small|(2)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Luther McCarty]]
|NWS
|10
|19 Aug 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|style="background:#DDD"|Win
|9–2 {{small|(1)}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Arthur Pelkey]]
|NWS
|10
|29 Jul 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|5
|2 Jul 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[South Chicago, Chicago]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Bauer
|TKO
|3 (6)
|29 May 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Irwin Hall, [[St. Charles, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|6 (10)
|22 May 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{no2}}Loss
|6–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Cox
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|5 (10)
|9 Oct 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Landers Theatre]], [[Springfield, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Mike McKimminsky
|PTS
|10
|10 Aug 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Hammon, Oklahoma|Hammon]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Lyons
|PTS
|10
|4 Jul 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Elk City, Oklahoma|Elk City]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|William Schiller
|KO
|4 (15)
|15 May 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Maize Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Mandino
|PTS
|4 (10)
|14 Apr 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Benevolent A.A., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lewis Fink
|KO
|3 (15), {{small|1:13}}
|24 Mar 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Benevolent A.A., [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Ed Burke
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|3 (10)
|7 Mar 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Jackson's Pavilion, [[El Reno, Oklahoma|El Reno]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{no2}}Loss
|0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lewis Fink
|{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}}
|10 (15), {{small|0:45}}
|15 Feb 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Sapulpa Air Dome, [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|}

===Unofficial record===
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|ko-wins=20
|ko-losses=3
|dec-wins=5
|dec-losses=3
|dq-losses=1
|draws=2
}}
Record with the inclusion of [[newspaper decision]]s to the win/loss/draw column.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|34
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|25–7–2}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Luis Angel Firpo]]
|KO
|8 (12), {{small|1:55}}
|12 Jul 1923
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Boyle's Thirty Acres]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|33
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–6–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Floyd Johnson]]
|TKO
|11 (15)
|12 May 1923
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], [[Bronx]], New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|32
|{{no2}}Loss
|24–6–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack Dempsey]]
|RTD
|3 (12)
|[[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|4 Jul 1919]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Bay View Park Arena, [[Toledo, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Lost world heavyweight title}}
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Frank Moran]]
|NWS
|10
|25 Mar 1916
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|World heavyweight title at stake;<br />(via KO only)}}
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]]
|KO
|26 (45), {{small|1:26}}
|5 Apr 1915
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Oriental Park Racetrack|Oriental Park]], [[Havana]], Cuba}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Won [[List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|KO
|6 (10)
|28 Apr 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Orpheum Theater, [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Dan Dailey
|KO
|9 (10)
|13 Apr 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Broadway Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|27
|{{no2}}Loss
|20–5–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Tom McMahon
|NWS
|12
|27 Mar 1914
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Grand Opera House, [[Youngstown, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|KO
|9 (20)
|29 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Casino, [[New Haven, Connecticut]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|George Davis
|KO
|2 (10)
|12 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Broadway Auditorium]], [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Carl E. Morris|Carl Morris]]
|NWS
|10
|3 Dec 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Jack Reed
|TKO
|2 (10)
|24 Nov 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|22
|{{no2}}Loss
|16–4–2
|style="text-align:left;"|George Rodel
|NWS
|10
|17 Nov 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Elite Rink, [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–3–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|11 (20)
|22 Aug 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Pacific A.C., [[Vernon, California|Vernon]], California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Young died of injuries sustained from the fight.<ref name="auto"/>}}
|-
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–3–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Williams
|TKO
|8 (10)
|4 Jul 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Moana Springs Arena, [[Reno, Nevada]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|19
|{{draw}}Draw
|14–3–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Charley Miller
|PTS
|4
|27 Jun 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Dreamland Rink, San Francisco, California, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|18
|{{no2}}Loss
|14–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gunboat Smith]]
|PTS
|20
|20 May 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Eighth Street Arena, [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Jack Leon
|KO
|4 (10)
|5 Mar 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Bauer
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:50}}
|22 Jan 1913
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Soldier Kearns
|KO
|8 (10)
|27 Dec 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Sailor White
|KO
|1 (10)
|2 Dec 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Miller's Hall, Buffalo, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|13
|{{draw}}Draw
|10–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Luther McCarty]]
|NWS
|10
|19 Aug 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Arthur Pelkey]]
|NWS
|10
|29 Jul 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden (1890)|Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City, New York]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|5
|2 Jul 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[South Chicago, Chicago]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Bauer
|TKO
|3 (6)
|29 May 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Irwin Hall, [[St. Charles, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Bull Young
|KO
|6 (10)
|22 May 1912
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Princess Rink, [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|-
|8
|{{no2}}Loss
|6–2
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe Cox
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|5 (10)
|9 Oct 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Landers Theatre]], [[Springfield, Missouri]], U.S.}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Mike McKimminsky
|PTS
|10
|10 Aug 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Hammon, Oklahoma|Hammon]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Lyons
|PTS
|10
|4 Jul 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Elk City, Oklahoma|Elk City]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|William Schiller
|KO
|4 (15)
|15 May 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Maize Theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Mandino
|PTS
|4 (10)
|14 Apr 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Benevolent A.A., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lewis Fink
|KO
|3 (15), {{small|1:13}}
|24 Mar 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Benevolent A.A., [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Ed Burke
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|3 (10)
|7 Mar 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Jackson's Pavilion, [[El Reno, Oklahoma|El Reno]], Oklahoma, U.S.}}
|
|-
|1
|{{no2}}Loss
|0–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lewis Fink
|{{abbr|DQ|Disqualification}}
|10 (15), {{small|0:45}}
|15 Feb 1911
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Sapulpa Air Dome, [[Sapulpa, Oklahoma]], U.S.}}
|style="text-align:left;"|
|}

== Family ==
Jess Willard was a 6th great-grandson (9th generation descendant) of the Massachusetts colonist [[Simon Willard (Massachusetts colonist)|Simon Willard]] (1605–1676).
{{main|Descendants of Simon Willard}} (1605–1676)

==See also==
* [[List of heavyweight boxing champions]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Works cited===
*{{cite book |last1=Aycock |first1=Colleen |last2=Scott |first2=Mark |date=2014 |title=Tex Rickard: Boxing's Greatest Promoter |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-9017-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EuHEDwITOsC&q=ex+Rickard:+Boxing%27s+Greatest+Promoter}}
*{{cite book |last1=Baker |first1=William Joseph |title=Sports in the Western World |publisher=University of Illinois Press |date=1988 |isbn=978-0-252-06042-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkuAiv3LoR4C }}
*{{cite book |last1=Fleischer |year=1958 |first1=Nat |title=50 Years At Ringside |publisher=Pickle Partners Publishing |isbn=978-1-78720-476-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ggQqDwAAQBAJ }}
*{{cite book |last1=Kent |first1=Graeme |title=Great White Hopes: The Quest to Defeat Jack Johnson |date=2005 |publisher=The History Press |isbn=978-0-7524-9615-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tv8-DQAAQBAJ }}
*{{cite book |last1=Mace |first1=Jim |title=Life Story of Heavyweight Champion Jess Willard |publisher=J. Mace |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mMcDHAAACAAJ |date=1980}}
*{{cite book |last1=Pacheco |first1=Ferdie |title=The 12 Greatest Rounds of Boxing: The Untold Stories |publisher=Pavilion Books |isbn=978-1-86105-805-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sOvpB-ryd_IC |date=2004}}

==Further reading==
*Allen, Arly (2017). ''Jess Willard: Heavyweight Champion of the World (1915-1919)''. McFarland & Company, Jefferson, NC. {{ISBN|9781476664446}}.

== External links ==
{{commons category|Jess Willard}}
* {{Boxrec|id=010602}}
*[http://www.kshs.org/cool2/cooljess.htm Jess Willard's Boxing Gear at Kansas Museum of History]
*{{YouTube|VawHgrLvbD4|Willard v. Dempsey}}
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/willard.htm Jess Willard – CBZ Profile]
*[http://www.ibhof.com/pages/about/inductees/oldtimer/willard.html Boxing Hall of Fame]
*[https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3600048 ESPN.com]

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{S-bef| rows   = 2 | before = [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]] }}
{{s-ttl| title  = World Heavyweight Champion
       | years  = April 5, 1915 – [[Jess Willard vs. Jack Dempsey|July 4, 1919]]}}
{{s-aft| after  = [[Jack Dempsey]] }}

|-
{{s-ttl| title  = [[List of Heavyweight Champions|Oldest Heavyweight Champion]]
       | years  = January 4, 1919 – July 18, 1951}}
{{s-aft| after  = [[Jersey Joe Walcott]]}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=[[Tommy Burns (Canadian boxer)|Tommy Burns]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[List of heavyweight boxing champions|Oldest Living Heavyweight Champion]]
        | years=May 10, 1955 – December 15, 1968}}
{{s-aft | rows=2 |after=[[Jack Dempsey]]}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=[[James J. Jeffries]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[List of heavyweight boxing champions|Longest Living Heavyweight Champion]]
        | years=November 18, 1959 – June 11, 1982}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before=Jack Johnson<br />1.99&nbsp;m (6&nbsp;ft&nbsp;0&nbsp;½&nbsp;in)}}
{{s-ttl|title=Tallest world champion<br />1.99&nbsp;m (6&nbsp;ft&nbsp;6&nbsp;½&nbsp;in)
       |years=5 April 1915 – 26 June 1999}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Vitali Klitschko]]<br />2.01&nbsp;m (6&nbsp;ft&nbsp;7&nbsp;in)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willard, Jess}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Pottawatomie County, Kansas]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:World heavyweight boxing champions]]
[[Category:World boxing champions]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]