The Fight of the Century Reno & Washoe County   39.53321, -119.79653

"#I've left the truck in idle and locked the doors while I record this capture ... for two reasons. I'm certainly receiving stares, not from angry homeowners, but from the many people "wandering" about this older section of Reno. Apparently I am probably one out of a very small amount of people who have actually taken the time to read this great boxing story. It's true. Nobody correlates great history with this very run-down section of the world's Biggest Little City. In fact, I was panhandled within seconds as I crouched into shooting position on the street corner. Sorry, but I didn't have "any spare change." The light's now fading and personally, I wouldn't be too heartbroken if I lit outta here. Only one more to go and I am headed back home. Home, sweet, home." -- Journal Entry, August 2007

At the corner of E. 4th (Old US 40) and Toana Sts. -- Reno

Original Date Visited: 8/23/07

Signed: No

Notes: [220] is located in an older section of Reno that does mandate a warning here. Lock all doors etc.

Exact Description:
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 outspoken black pugilist. Gamblers had their money on Jeffries, but Johnson easily handled his opponent and Jeffries's 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.

The fenced junkyard directly behind this marker explains this markers awkward location. Welcome to the original site of one of the largest prize fights in America.

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SAND HARBOR

Related Links & Markers

 Johnson-Jeffries Fight (Reno Historical) 

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