JO Sports Inc.
HISTORY: In 1926 Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills were rumored to be setting up a match for Dempsey's heavyweight title. Midwestern boxing promoter Floyd Fitzsimmons rendered a check to Wills for his fee, but failed to produce even a downpayment for Dempsey's much larger fee for a bout between the two fighters, who had, in July 1925, signed an agreement for a 1926 title match, which never materialized as a result. Disagreement has existed among boxing historians as to whether Dempsey had avoided Wills—though Dempsey swore he was willing to fight him—as having said he would no longer fight Black boxers after winning the title. Wills twice attempted to sue Dempsey for breach of contract over the canceled bout, which had also been barred in New York State on orders from Governor Alfred E. Smith by Athletic Commissioner James Farley, an early champion of African-American equal rights due to his public threats to resign from the Athletic Commission if Wills was not given the fight against the champion Dempsey, as Farley deemed Wills the number one contender. A deadly race riot in the wake of The Johnson-Jeffries Fight (film depiction) also created reluctance to promote the match. The stand taken by Commissioner Farley would help enable Farley to add the African American vote to the New Deal coalition as Franklin D. Roosevelt 's campaign manager and subsequently Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from the Republican Party, which had traditionally up until the 1930s controlled the African American voting block as the party of Lincoln. Offered here is a circa 1926 Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills exhibit card which was issued when this proposed bout seemed possible.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original exhibit card which names and pictures Dempsey and Wills and lists their vital statistics. Blank back. Not creased or torn. Corner wear. Mild soiling. Bold clear images and bold, clear print. 3 1/4" x 5 1/4."
