Harry Wills

[Willie Pep 229]

Stumbled across something on Cyber Boxing Zone. It has Joe Louis fighting a four round exhibition against a "Harry Wills" in June of 1947. Anyone know if that was Harry Wills or just a name coincidence?

[QueensburyRules]

Stumbled across something on Cyber Boxing Zone. It has Joe Louis fighting a four round exhibition against a "Harry Wills" in June of 1947. Anyone know if that was Harry Wills or just a name coincidence?

- -Don't know, but it's something both would be inclined to do for the fans.

[GhostofDempsey]

I'd say doubtful. Wills would have been in his late 50's. He also lived in NYC, and that exhibition took place in Los Angeles. I'm guessing this Harry Wills who fought the exhibition was local to LA area.

[Willie Pep 229]

Yea makes sense . . . I found a Young Harry Wills (HW) fighting out of Los Angeles 1944-1956.

He was fighting regularly up and down the California coast between 1946 and 1948 with a strange absence of fights between January and August 1947.

Location and timing is right; me thinks this was likely the guy. Can't find any newspaper mention though.

[Dynamite76]

The fact that Dempsey put the title on ice for 3 years, is a disgrace in itself.

[Willie Pep 229]

The fact that Dempsey put the title on ice for 3 years, is a disgrace in itself.

Why did you resurrect this post to make that point?

[Dynamite76]

Why did you resurrect this post to make that point?

Worth mentioning. Feel that Dempsey would have lost to Wills as well. If Jack Johnson had put the title on ice for three years, he would not hear the end of it.

[Willie Pep 229]

Worth mentioning. Feel that Dempsey would have lost to Wills as well. If Jack Johnson had put the title on ice for three years, he would not hear the end of it.

Yes it is an intetesting point, actually a common complaint but it still begs the question "why here?" -- this was about Louis fighting someone name Wills -- are you not going a bit out of the way to Dempsey bash?

Maybe you should start a thread
.

[Dynamite76]

Yes it is an intetesting point, acIItually a common complaint but it still begs the question "why here?" -- this was about Louis fighting someone name Wills -- are you not going a bit out of the way to Dempsey bash?

Maybe you should start a thread
.

I apologize, wasn't my intent to steer the thread, but it is a good point. My understanding is that Wills did pretty good after retiring from the ring. Not sure if he fought Louis in an exhibition. Will consider that idea about a thread you mention have to get more info.

[QueensburyRules]

Worth mentioning. Feel that Dempsey would have lost to Wills as well. If Jack Johnson had put the title on ice for three years, he would not hear the end of it.

- -But Dempsey was trying to make the Wills fight by ditching Kearns and Rickard.

Settled history.