This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2014
Vintage, framed photograph featuring the signing of the contract for the World Heavyweight Championship Fight between Champion Jack Johnson and challenger and former retired champion Jim Jeffries, to be held in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910. All the principles involved with the fight are pictured. The day after Christmas in 1908 Johnson had taken the heavyweight title by giving Tommy Burns one of the most one sided beatings ever witnessed in a title fight, to become the first African-American Champ. Thus began the public outcry for a "Great White Hope" to defeat Johnson and retake the title. In 1909 Johnson knocked out Stanley Ketchel and now would get his chance to face the former undefeated champ in the ring. Jeffries, now an alfalfa farmer, has bloated up to almost 300 pounds since his retirement 6 years earlier. By the time of the fight he had lost over 70 pounds. He managed to stay with the better conditioned Johnson for the first few rounds. Johnson started to gain the edge in the 6th and continued to build up momentum in the over 100 degree heat. Jeffries, known for his legendary ability to absorb punishment, managed to stay with him. In the 14th, Johnson knocked Jeffries to the canvas 3 times, the first time the former champ had been knocked down in his career. Finally Jeffries' camp threw in the towel and Johnson retained his World Championship title. Photo glued to black paper in a wood frame. On the black paper in stylish white ink is written: Lower Left - "New York City Oct. 29, '09". Lower right - "Signing of the articles of The Jeffries-Johnson Contest over a case of Pommery". Upper left - "Jack Johnson" right above his image. Upper right - "George Little James J. Jeffries Sam Berger Bob Murphy George Considine Abe Attel Bob Vernon" above their respective images. 10" by 13 1/2" photo in original vintage frame measuring 18 1/2" by 21 1/2". Also included with the lot is a August 17, 1935 article in the Saturday Evening Post written by Jeffries titled "Inside The Ropes - They Never Come back" which talks about the fight. Beautiful framed piece from one of the most historic fights in boxing history!