BoxRec

I am reading it now.

I was hoping that Adam Pollack would have extended his In The Ring series to include Jess, but he ended with Johnson.

Glad for this book, as Willard is almost completely overlooked.

It’s too bad that his movie, like most movies from that era, is destroyed. I’m sure “The Heart Punch” is ridiculous, but I’d love to be able to watch it.

Have not read the book, would like to hear your opinion.

You made me look at Jess Willard's film career. Both early films are lost: The Heart Punch (1915) and The Challenge of Chance (1919)

The latter debuted two weeks before the Dempsey fight, (June 1919) that must of hurt its 'box office.' The production company Continental Pictures (III) came in, and went out, of business with the film.

It's funny, even though people now accept it wasn't a fix, you still get people saying stuff like he was taking a beating until Johnson was exhausted.

They both knew Johnson's best chance was early, and thought appropriately, but Willard actually did pretty well to neutralise the attacks, though probably still dropping the rounds. I mean he hardly looks like someone that's been taking a beating for 20 rounds at the end.

I read once (for what that's worth) that the ref stated he would have given Johnson the fight after 20 rounds. -- What I notice was how effective Willard was at leaning on Johnson in the clinches. He made the 'old man' carry him around the ring for much of the fight. Willard used his strength well. He made a few moves to try and grab and lean on Dempsey in the same way but Dempsey kept his 'in-out' bobbing and weaving going.

APerno wrote: ↑27 Mar 2019, 16:49 Have not read the book, would like to hear your opinion.

You made me look at Jess Willard's film career. Both early films are lost: The Heart Punch (1915) and The Challenge of Chance (1919)

The latter debuted two weeks before the Dempsey fight, (June 1919) that must of hurt its 'box office.' The production company Continental Pictures (III) came in, and went out, of business with the film.

Was able to set aside a little time and when I did I found it very informative and burned through it fast.

It’s full of a lot of interesting info on not just Willard, but the entire era.
It seems as though everyplace Willard fought, boxing was outlawed soon thereafter.
Between Luther McCarty and Bull Young’s death, it’s surprising that boxing wasn’t completely banned during this time.

Willard started off unbelievably green and the book makes a convincing argument concerning many of his losses being the result of just some strange stuff.

One of the biggest notions, for me, placed forth by the book was just how famous Willard was. Just how big of a deal Jess Willard was not just because he was champ but because boxing was just such an insanely huge part of life then.

You expect it from Johnson and Dempsey, but once upon a time Jess Willard was the biggest figure in sports.

Willard is such an after thought now that it’s tough to wrap your head around the truth that Jess Willard was one of the most popular people in the world.

In any case it’s good to have a book written about him. As the book shows, he deserves that.

Contendeh wrote: ↑30 Apr 2019, 21:18 Was able to set aside a little time and when I did I found it very informative and burned through it fast.

It’s full of a lot of interesting info on not just Willard, but the entire era.
It seems as though everyplace Willard fought, boxing was outlawed soon thereafter.
Between Luther McCarty and Bull Young’s death, it’s surprising that boxing wasn’t completely banned during this time.

Willard started off unbelievably green and the book makes a convincing argument concerning many of his losses being the result of just some strange stuff.

One of the biggest notions, for me, placed forth by the book was just how famous Willard was. Just how big of a deal Jess Willard was not just because he was champ but because boxing was just such an insanely huge part of life then.

You expect it from Johnson and Dempsey, but once upon a time Jess Willard was the biggest figure in sports.

Willard is such an after thought now that it’s tough to wrap your head around the truth that Jess Willard was one of the most popular people in the world.

In any case it’s good to have a book written about him. As the book shows, he deserves that.

Thanks -- may check it out -- especially like works that place the fighter in the era.