Jess Willard

Jess Willard (1881-1968), American boxer, born on Potawatomi land in Kansas. Willard became a professional boxer at the age of 28, after having been a farmer and a wagon-train handler. In 1915 he defeated the American boxer Jack Johnson, world heavyweight champion, in Havana, in a fight that lasted 26 rounds (1 hr 44 min). In 1919 Willard lost the title to the American boxer Jack Dempsey when he was unable to answer the bell that signaled the beginning of the fourth round. Willard fought in 36 fights, in which he scored 20 knockouts and was himself knocked out only twice. He worked briefly in circuses and silent movies.