Jack Johnson V's Billy Wells

[Gary.K]

Hi, I've been looking for info regarding this cancelled fight, all references say it was to be fought in London??



Can anyone clarify?

Thanks.

[delisa]

Johnson signed for a London match with Wells in July 1911. Venue was to be Empress Hall, Earl's Court, and the date Oct 2.. The fight was canceled by England's "Home Office" when Winston Churchill, the Secretary, declared the fight to be illegal. Following that, on Sep 25, 1911, some Protestant clergymen instigated a legal action against Johnson and WElls claiming they were conspiring to breach the peace. The next day, the District Railway, the landlord that owned Earl's Court, obtained an injunction against the bout.

The charges against Johnson and Wells were dropped on Sep 28 when they agreed in court not to fight in England.


The promoters tried to reschedule from London to Paris but that fell through.

The stub you have has no official connection with the scheduled bout -- it is simply a betting stub for a "guess the round" contest, apparently sponsored by the Hippodrome.

[Gary.K]

Thanks Delisa, Good info.....round 3 would have been a good bet I reckon :-)

[Bladder]

http://i35.tinypic.com/2316xu.jpg