Jess Willard (December 29, 1881 – December 15, 1968) was a world heavyweight boxing champion known as the Pottawatomie Giant who knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title. He was known for his great strength and ability to absorb tremendous punishment, although today he is also known for his title loss to Jack Dempsey.Willard held the championship for more than four years. Today his reign is considered the 11th longest in the heavyweight division. He lost the title to Jack Dempsey in 1919 in one of the most severe beatings ever in a championship bout. Willard was knocked down for the first time in his career during the first round and another six times before the round was over; he suffered broken ribs, shattered jaw, broken nose, four missing teeth, partial hearing loss in one ear along with numerous cuts and contusions. Jess fought for two more rounds before retiring on his stool because of the injuries he received in the first round, relinquishing the title.At 6 ft 6 1?2 in (1.99 m) and 235 lb (107 kg), Willard was the tallest and the largest heavyweight champion in boxing history, until the 270 pounds (120 kg) Primo Carnera won the title on June 29, 1933, and the 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Vitali Klitschko won the WBC title in 2004 and the 7 ft Nikolai Valuev won the WBA title in 2005.
Fought Victor McLaglen circa 1911. Eventually, McLaglen abandoned the ring for acting. Interestingly, in 1909, McLaglen had boxed in an exhibition match against heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, the man Willard beat for the title in 1915.
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Lost his last fight at age 42 to Luis Firpo by knockout.
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Made a comeback at 42 and knocked out number 2 contender Floyd Johnson in an upset.
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Suffered a broken jaw, knocked out teeth, broken cheek bones, a broken nose, broken eye-socket, and broken ribs in his title loss to Jack Dempsey.
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Scored a stunning upset by knocking out champion Jack Johnson to win the heavyweight title in 1915, ending Johnson's 7-year reign.
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Knocked out Bull Young and Young died of a broken neck.
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Became a professional boxer at 29.
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In the months leading up to his legendary fight with Jack Johnson, Johnson ran his mouth about how he was going to destroy Willard, someone he considered to be a joke of a fighter. However, Willard got the last laugh when he literally knocked Johnson out cold in the 26th round (The longest ever prizefight under Queensberry rules). When later asked why he didn't respond with insults back at Johnson, he said "I let my fists do the talking.".
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Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 2003.
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Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1989.
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World heavyweight boxing champion from 1915 to 1919. Is the tallest heavyweight boxing champion in history.
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Was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1977.
$14 Million