JO Sports, Inc.
HISTORY: On JUly 26, 1920 at the First Regiment Armory in New York heavyweight contenders Harry Wills and Fred Fulton fought in the featured match. Fulton was a 7 to 5 favourite going in. Advance ticket sales amounted to well over $60,000. Some 10,000 fans were turned away. Wills said he expected to weigh 214 lbs. The day before the fight Jack Johnson, who had been arrested upon crossing the border from Mexico, was taken from a train in Chicago and hustled off to Joliet prison. Jack Dempsey sat at ringside alongside singer Al Jolson and was impressed by the size of the crowd. Interviewed immediately after the fight he expressed surprise at Fulton's poor showing, observed that Wills was very slow on his feet, and suggested that Frank Moran, who had also fought on the card, could easily lick the "black panther". According to Robert Maxwell of the Philadelphia Ledger in the third round Wills reached out with his left and encircled Fulton's waist and then let fly with 3 short hard rights to the body that took all the air out of Fulton. "Prior to the match, World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey said he would like to meet the winner, even if it were Wills. The very next day, it was announced that Dempsey would fight Billy Miske."
Report in the NY Evening World: Wills broke 3 of Fulton's left ribs. The finisher was a short right to the solar plexus that knocked the wind out of Fulton and a right to the jaw that deposited him on his haunches where he took the count. On the significant undercard world welterweight champion Jack Britton stopped Marcel Thomas in the 10th round. Lightweights Johnny Dundee and Eddie Fitzsimmons fought to a ten round round draw. In a heavyweight match Frank Moran won a close ten round decision over Wild Bert Kenny.
Offered here is an exceedingly rare, original, on site poster for this event.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, paper, on site poster which names the fighters on the show and pictures Harry Wills and Fred Fulton. Includes ticket prices and a brief preview of the fights on the show. Professionally linen backed. Bold print and bold, clear images. Some toning from aging. Restoration at the borders and at the original folds. Clean. 14 1/4" x 20 1/4." Exceedingly rare, the only example we have seen and the only poster of Harry Wills we have seen.
