The herald., 1898-03-03
THAT PUGILISTIC FIASCO
GODDARD GETS MORE THAN HE
DESERVES
Referee Brink Says "Training Elk.
penses Only" Which Amount
to $500

Joe Goddard is said on reliable authority
to have received $500 from the Los Angeles
Athletic club for his part in the so-called
fight between himself and Jim Jeffries at
Hazards pavilion Monday night. He was
given the check yesterday by John Brink,
representing the club. Had he put up
fight worth seeing or had he made any ef-
fort to give the spectators what they paid
their money to see he would have received
one-half of 70 per cent of the gros receipts
which would have made his share $685..
What he saved by losing 1926 was a pos
sible Knockout, and at all events a good
drubbing from the Los Angeles heavy
weight. He cared nothing for the loss of
prestige for he had lost about all that he
ever possessed by his last exhibition with
Sharkey.
That Goddard did received $500 was not
announced publicly. The club president
stated last night that the club would al
low Goddard only small amount for ac-
tual training expenses, but for some oc-
cult reason positively refused to state the
amount. Under the agreement they did
not necessarily have to pay the gutter one
cent. Training expenses must have cost
Goddard neat sum If it takes $500 to pay
them. From Brink's statement it would
appear that the club was disgusted with
Goddard's action and had refused to give
worth mentioning. The action of the club
in making this payment to such a man for
such work as he did Monday night will not
help pugilsm in this city.
Considering the interest that has been
taken in the so-called fight, and the state
ments made by Goddard since then, the
local patrons of the ring have repeatedly
asked just what the clubs agreement with
the men was. The contract is as follows:
This 3Prpamapf m dp md int
this 2lst day of January, 1898, by and
between Jim Jeffries and Joe Goddard,
the former of Los Angeles, Cal, and
the latter of San Francisco, Call par
ties of the first part, and the Los An
geles Athletic club, corporal ton ex-
listing under the laws of California.
party of the second part. witnesseth:
That for and in consideration Of 70
per cent of the gross receipts furnished
by the said Los Angeles Athletic club,
said Jim Jsfries and Joe Goddard agree
to engage in a fifteen round, five-
ounce glove contest in a twenty-four
tsD foot ring, Marquis of Queensbury
rules to govern, under the management
of the said Los Angeles Athletic club,
on the 2Sth day of February 1895; both
men to be in the ring ready for the
contest not later than o'clock pm, at
catch weights; the winner to take IS
per cent and the loser to take As per
cent of said purse, each man to deposit
forfeit of 5000 for his appearance,
ready and willing to box; and 1t is fur
ther agreed by both said Jim Jeffries
and Joe Goddard, each for himself, that
tho contest shall be upon it's merits and
to the entire satisfaction of the party
OF the second part, and upon any at
tempt on part of the contestants to
hippodrome, or If the contest shall not
be entirely satisfactory to said club
or It's representatives the club shall
declare the affair mo contest and no
portion of said purse shall be claimed
by either Of said contestants
This agreement was signed by both men
and the deposit was made by them They
began training, Goddard doing his work
at the club house. That he was in excel
lent condition for a fight there can be no
doubt. Before entering the ring he re-
peatedly declared that he was never in
better condition and was confident Of win
ming. What he did everyone who paid the
rather high price of admission to the fiasco
remembers. The exhibition was even
worse than that in which he and Sharkey
were the so-called contestants.
referee John Brink was asked last night
why he had not declared the affair no con-
test as the agreement provided. He said;
Il could not fairly do that. Jeffries was
willing to fight and did all that could be
expected of him. 1t was not his fault that
Goddard quit as he did. We had to pay |
Jeffries his part of the purse, but we have
refused to pay Goddard his share and will
not pay it. vAll he gets is a small amount
for training expenses 1t was none of the |
clubs affair how the men divided their |
share of the purse OF course we thought |
they would divide It as the agreement pro-
vided, but just before the fight began both |
men came to me and stated that they hadI
agreed to divide it equally. We could not |
object to this. There was $17OO in the box |
office and 10 per cent of this is $119O, The |
men were therefore to receive $595 each. |
During the fight 1 heard Goddard say to |
Jeffries: What are you giving it to me in |
this way for?' to which Jeffries replied |
that he would punch his head off of he got
q chance.
II saw no blows which considered
strong enough to weaken Goddard or even
to cause him temporary weakness He
was not punished and all his talk about |
still suffering from blow in the stomach
Is rot. If the men had an agreement to
quietly box fifteen rounds and then claim
the money the club knows nothing OF II. I /
do not believe there was any such agree
ment for Jeffries work was too strong. I'll
was simply q case Of cowardly gutter |
trying to face q strong man. and while we /
regret Il a. much a. anybody can, still WeI
hH0 nO idon fhnt ~ n1Vnlr rnsv1R Ass.ss xss.H