Jess Myron Willard (December 29, 1881 – December 15, 1968) was an American world heavyweight boxing champion known as the Pottawatomie Giant who knocked out Jack Johnson in April 1915 for the heavyweight title. He was known for his great strength and size for the time, although today he is also known for his controversial title loss to Jack Dempsey. Willard held the championship for more than four years. Today his reign is considered the 11th longest in the heavyweight division. He lost the title to Dempsey in 1919 in one of the most severe beatings ever in a championship bout. Willard was knocked down for the first time in his career during the first round and another seven times before the round was over; some reports claim that he suffered broken ribs, shattered jaw, broken nose, four missing teeth, partial hearing loss in one ear along with numerous cuts and contusions, but these reports are highly disputable. Willard fought for two more rounds before retiring on his stool because of the injuries he received in the first round, relinquishing the title. At 6 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.99 m) and 235 lb (107 kg), Willard was the tallest and the largest heavyweight champion in boxing history (and currently the largest of any American heavyweight). He lost that title on June 29, 1933 to the Italian Primo Carnera, at 6 ft 5 1⁄2 in (197 cm) and 270 pounds (120 kg). Then in 2004, the Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko won the WBC title at 6 ft 7 in (201 cm). And finally the 7 ft Russian Nikolai Valuev won the WBA title in 2005 and remains the largest heavyweight champion today.