Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard
Jack Dempsey took the heavyweight title from Jess Willard on July the 4th 1919. Jess Willard was a huge man of exceptionable strength who had taken the title from the great Jack Johnson. He had a granite chin and had never been knocked of his feet. His best weapon was his very long straight left and a deadly right uppercut that he had previously killed a man with.
Dempsey was giving away 70 pounds and 6 inches in height to Willard but he more then made up for it in speed power and aggression. The fight may be the most brutal and vicious outburst ever seen in the ring.. Dempsey smashed Willard with four beautiful tight hooks that smashed Willard's jaw and flattened the giant.
Willard was knocked down seven times in the first round but showed phenomenal courage as well as strength and stamina to continue through the second and third rounds. Willard could not come out for the fourth round having suffered cracked ribs a broken jaw, broken nose and missing teeth. Dempsey was relentless throughout the fight and was clearly in terrific shape having kept a furious pace through a blistering 112 degree heat.