Harry Wills
American boxer (1889-1958) · United States · On the map · Athletes · Died at 69
Harry Wills was an American heavyweight boxer who held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship three times. Many boxing historians consider Wills the most egregious victim of the "color line" drawn by white heavyweight champions.
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Wills fought for over 20 years (1911-1932), and was ranked as the number-one challenger for the world heavyweight championship, but was denied the opportunity to fight for the title. Of all the black contenders between the heavyweight championship reigns of Jack Johnson and Joe Louis, Wills came closest to securing a title shot. BoxRec ranks him among 10 best heavyweights in the world from 1913 to 1924, and as No.1 heavyweight from 1915 to 1917 and many regard him as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
