Reno in Washoe County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Fight of the Century

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, March 17, 2016

1. The Fight of the Century Marker

Inscription. On this site on July 4, 1910, Reno hosted "The Fight of the Century," a heavyweight championship boxing match between John Arthur "Jack" Johnson, the black title holder, and James J. "Jim" Jeffries, a former champion seeking to regain the title he had vacated in 1904. Jeffries had refereed a previous championship bout between Marvin Hart and Jack Root at this site on July 3, 1905, but the promotion of the ex-champion as "The Great White Hope" focused world-wide attention on his 1910 contest with the talented Johnson, known as the "Galveston Giant.". Gamblers had their money on Jeffries, but Johnson easily handled his opponent and Jeffries' trainers called the fight in the fifteenth round to save their man from the disgrace of a knockout.

Promoted by Tex Rickard, the fight brought over 30,000 fans to Reno, some 22,000 of whom packed the arena here on the day of the fight.

Erected by Nevada Historic Preservation Office and Washoe County Historical Society and Nevada Corral Westerners International. (Marker Number 220.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 39° 31.989′ N, 119° 47.789′ W. Marker is in Reno, Nevada, in Washoe County. It is at the intersection

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of East 4th Street and Toano Street, on the right when traveling east on East 4th Street. Marker is at the southeast corner of East 4th Street and Toano Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Reno NV 89512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Sierra Nevada

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mizpah Hotel (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Reno Depots (approx. 0.8 miles away); Coney Island (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Reno Arch (approx. 0.9 miles away); Morrill Hall, 1887 (approx. one mile away); "Sister Act" (approx. one mile away); Jacob Davis's Tailor Shop (approx. one mile away); Nevada State Hospital (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reno.

Other markers no longer nearby. N.C.O. Railroad Depot (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Reno at the Crossroads (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Alvis Hendley, March 17, 2016

2. The Fight of the Century Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 832 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2016, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.