Lot # 1457: 1919 Jess Willard Versus Jack Dempsey World's Heavyweight Championship Fight On-Site Pictorial Souvenir Scorecard/Postcard

The "Pottawatomie Giant" and the "Manassa Mauler" enter the bidding ring, with this 1919 Jess Willard versus Jack Dempsey scorecard/postcard. While their nicknames suggest a wrestling match, these champion prizefighters were about serious business in the ring. Issued on-site at the Bay View Park Arena in Toledo, this trifold souvenir features photographs of the fight's belligerents on the obverse. The date of this heavyweight championship bout is announced at center on the reverse as July 4, 1919. The Willard panel is a postcard, and the Dempsey panel is printed with a statistics comparison of the renowned fighters. Centering the photograph panels, is a score card section with Dempsey entered on the bottom line as the winner. Having suffered a tremendous beating including seven knockdowns in the first round, Willard was unable to continue after the third round. Controversial reports suggest Dempsey had lined gloves, or possibly used a knuckleduster, though these claims are unproven. Moderate wear includes a corner crease at top-right of both photograph panels, and the postcard section attachment fold has been reinforced on the reverse with clear tape. Despite these conditions, this antique boxing souvenir remains broadly appealing, with dynamic photographs.