The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-08
DIXON MADE $4,000.
Former Feather-W Weight Champion
Regrets He Spent it ALL

New York, Aug. S-George Dixon,
one of the greatest fighters ever pro-
duced in this country. told the story Of
his life to a reporter
ITO begin WITH said Dixon, ''I have
been fighting fourteen years next Sep
tenber. 1 have fought for big and
small purses during that time and as
have also been on the read with theat-
rical companies for over four years, 1
think 1 can safely say that have made
for myself about $97 900.
when 1 say that 1 made that much
money / am not lying, for the money
came very fast to me, but being a care
less fellow, I squandered it just as fast
so that at the present time, out OF all
that money 1 only have a few hundred
dollars and a house in Boston, for
which I paid $4,000.
I lost my money by gambling, play
ing the races, leading a fast life and by
lending my money to friends. When
think Of how much money went
through it gives me chills-
How much money my manager, Tom
O'Rourke, has made off my fighting l
don't care to state, as it is purely q per-
sonal matter. Mr.. O'Rourke has treat
ed me splendidly since he first became
my manager, thirteen years ago, and 1
haeV no complaint to offer. AT one
time I had $4,000 in bank That was
when 1 was good-hving boy But l
fell from grace, like John L. Sullivan
and all the others, and wien once got
started on that road my money slipped
away from me very quickly. l was a
good fellow, ! guess. with my money,
but as all good fellows generally see a
day when they need a dollar, certain
ly have already seen that time very
often.
IF I had my life over again bet
wouldn't spend my money as recklessly
as 1 did I would be as great a saver
as Terry McGovern. 1 hope McGovern
won't get as careless as l was for we
have to fight too hard to get rich.
hi Inv, ,5,,cr- of f7cr1f
was my second battle with poor Cal
Mccarthy. who is dead now. I got
$4,000 for beating him at Troy. The first
fight we had L made $1,000, making
Sc, 600 altogether.
In my fight with Eddie Pierce at
Coney Island got S23, 900. for that with
Jack Skelly received 1900, with Fred
Johnson, the Englishman, at Coney ISL
and, got $14, 900, and with Solly Smith,
at the same place, $4,000.
Those were my largest winnings
The other fights which I have had and
which brought me in plenty of money
were with Abe Willis. the Australian,
for defeating whom got $4,000; Nunce
Wallace, in England, $500; Johnny
Murphy twice, $4,000; three fights with
Young Griffo. over $4,000 My fights
with Dal Hawkins and SOlly Smith, in
San Francisco, netted me over 5000.
while my two battles with Terry Nc
Govern, one in this city and the other
in Chicago, gave me over S4,5OO-
nave DSeu OH Tie 4OSAA AbA OFCA AOA4
years, and there was plenty of money
in the theatrical business at that time.
We never got less than $400 a week for
our share after all expenses were paid
after figuring up, at rough esti-
mate, how much money realized out
of the show business, I think can
safely say that l got for my share over
$4,000. I have fought many other bat
ties for which I have received anything
from $500 up to 81. 500. In placing my
winnings at S97 900 think have struck
the right figure"