Underwood & Underwood NY photographer

Jess Willard and Fred Fulton [Heavyweight fighters]

Chicago,

1918

Original vintage silver print photograph of Jess Willard and Fred Fulton shaking hands after signing for a fight. Inscribed on the front ‘Fred Fulton’ and ‘Jess Willard’.
A type written article is attached reading “Jess Willard and Fred Fulton shake after signing articles for July Fourth fight. Left to right are Fred Fulton and Jess Willard shaking hands after signing articles to fight for the fistic championship of the World in a bout to be staged on July 4th. They have yet to decide on the exact terms of the bout and the referee. They signed up for this match in Chicago. This picture is the first to show champion Willard and contender Fulton together on rather friendly terms. It gives sport fans too their first real opportunity of sizing up the men by seeing them as they appear in actual comparison. They’re pretty evenly matched in height but Willard seems much the huskier. Both despite the concealments of conventional street clothing instead of ring attire seem in the pink of condition for the fray on the Fourth. 3/27/18.”

240 by 180mm (9½ by 7 inches).

Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title. He was known for size rather than skill. In 1919 he lost the title by refusing to come out for the 4th round against Jack Dempsey who became champion, suggesting Dempsey had used some form of knuckle duster in the fight. The matter has never been resolved. In retirement he started acting, appearing in a few films.

[14082]