HEAVYWEIGHT division
JESS WILLARD
RetiredBorn Jess Myron Willard
Born 1881-12-29, SAINT CLERE, KS. (died aged 86)· Died 1968-12-15, LOS ANGELES, CA.· USA
Residence: POTTAWATOMIE, KS.· Stance: orthodox· Height: 199 cm (6'6.5")· aka GREAT WHITE HOPE, POTTAWATOMIE GIANT
Debut: 1911-02-15· Career: 1911–1923 (13 years)
Wins (Official)
24
Losses (Official)
9
Draws (Official)
1
NC
0
Rated Fights
28
In his teenage years and twenties he worked as a cowboy.[2] He was of mostly 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.
Willard acted in a vaudeville show, had a role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, and starred in a 1919 feature film The Challenge of Chance. In 1933, he appeared in a bit part in a boxing movie, The Prizefighter and the Lady, with Max Baer and Myrna Loy.
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.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Compare JESS WILLARD's career against any other fighter on record — records, ratings, common opponents, and any direct bouts.
Title Reigns — 1
1915-04-05 → 1919-07-04 · 4y 2m · 0 defences
Lost to JACK DEMPSEY · TKO
Complete Record — 34 Bouts
| Date | Result | Opponent | Rds | Div. | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔒 12 JUL 1923 | LOSS | LUIS ANGEL FIRPO | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 MAY 1923 | KO | FLOYD JOHNSON | 11 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUL 1919 | LOSS | JACK DEMPSEY | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 25 MAR 1916 | NWS-W | FRANK MORAN | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 05 APR 1915 | KO | JACK JOHNSON | 26 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | TITLE |
| 🔒 28 APR 1914 | KO | GEORGE RODEL | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 13 APR 1914 | KO | DAN DALY | 9 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 MAR 1914 | NWS-L | TOM MCMAHON | 12 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 DEC 1913 | KO | GEORGE RODEL | 9 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 12 DEC 1913 | KO | GEORGE ONE ROUND DAVIS | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 03 DEC 1913 | NWS-W | CARL MORRIS | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 24 NOV 1913 | TKO | JACK REED | 2 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 17 NOV 1913 | NWS-L | GEORGE RODEL | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 AUG 1913 | KO | BULL YOUNG | 11 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUL 1913 | TKO | AL WILLIAMS | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 JUN 1913 | DRAW | CHARLIE MILLER | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 20 MAY 1913 | LOSS | ED GUNBOAT SMITH | 20 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 05 MAR 1913 | KO | JACK LEON | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 JAN 1913 | TKO | FRANK BAUER | 5 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 27 DEC 1912 | KO | SOLDIER KEARNS | 8 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 02 DEC 1912 | KO | SAILOR WHITE | 1 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 19 AUG 1912 | NWS-D | LUTHER MCCARTY | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 JUL 1912 | NWS-W | ARTHUR PELKEY | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 02 JUL 1912 | KO | BULL YOUNG | 5 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 29 MAY 1912 | TKO | FRANK BAUER | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 22 MAY 1912 | KO | BULL YOUNG | 6 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 09 OCT 1911 | LOSS | JOE COX | 5 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 10 AUG 1911 | DEC | MIKE MCKIMMINSKY | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 04 JUL 1911 | DEC | FRANK LYONS | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 MAY 1911 | KO | WILLIAM SCHILLER | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 14 APR 1911 | DEC | AL MANDINO | 4 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 24 MAR 1911 | KO | LEWIS FINK | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 07 MAR 1911 | KO | ED BURKE | 3 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — | |
| 🔒 15 FEB 1911 | LOSS | LEWIS FINK | 10 | HEAVYWEIGHT | — |
Some bouts are locked in the archive
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Final Resting Place
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
