The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-27
Charlie Mitchell Said to Be the
Richest One of All.
SULLIVAN MADE MOST.
Has Spent Several Fortunes in
His Time.
Jeffries is Quite Wealthy and
Saves His Money.
McGOvern'S Bank Roll is Now
Said to Be 100000.

New York, Feb. 27.-Announcements
OF the tremendous amounts of money
received by prize ring champions IN
their winning battles would lead to the
belief that some large fortunes would
have been accumulated by this time by
some holders of the title at least This
is not borne out by facts, however, for
while the leading pugilistS of the ring
are at least Independent, there is not
one who has amased more than mod
crate sum.
John L. Sullivan probably made more
money than any fighter in America and
he certainly spent it faster than any
other. He has made and spent several
fortunes in his day, and had he saved
but a small fraction of his winnings ne
would have been a wealthy man today.
AT present, however, he is practically
without means and was forced to travel
with an Uncle Toms Cabin company
this winter, the company by the way,
breaking up a week or two ago.
George Dixon was another champion
of Suliivan's day who spent the money
fast as he got it, and the little negro
probably rid himself of two or three
good-sized fortunes in his career He
a. fortune for Tom O'Rourke while
he was under the latter's management,
and when Dixon was defeated by Nc
Govern, O'ROurke made a touching
speech in which he said that the little
fighter would never want while he lived
for he (OROurlSe) would provide for
him. Considering the sums which
O'Rourlxe extracted from him, this was
reasonable enough, but as soon as 1t
was apparent that DixOn'S day was
over, O'Rourke turned him adrift. and
George is now practically penniless.
Fighters of the Sullivan time were all
lavish spenders, and there has been but
slight change for the most part in
fighters of today. Several notable ex-
ceptiOns exist at present, notable cases
being the champions in the various
classes, several of whom are fairly we'll
off.
Young Corbett has made considerable
money since he defeated McGovern,
and McGovern is possessor of quite
large fortune. His bank roll is esti-
mated at 100000 at least, in spite of
the enormous profits which Sam Harris
extracted from him, and as Terry has
also shown a saving disposition, it is
likely that he will retain his money
after his fighting days are over.
COrbett, Fitzsimmons and Jeffries
have saved money from their earnings.
Corbett made a fortune out of his the
atrical business, but spent it rapidly,
and his bank roll at present is probably
not more than his winnings in his fight
with Sullivan-S45.000. He owns con-
siderable property in Minneapolis and
elsewhere, however. and his efforts as
a monologue artist are now bringing
him in ST. 200 weekly. His prospects,
however, are not bad. especially as he
is beginning to show tendencies of
thriftiness.
Fitzsimmons never made the money
in his stage ventures that Corbett did,
his personality being less attractive
while on the stage Fitz was undoubt-
edly the closest fighter with his money
that ever held a title, however, and he
probably made his winnings in his va
rious bouts last longer than did any
other fighter. He owns his own home
at BenSonhurst, near New York, and
although it is need of money which is
now sending him back to the ring he
probably has enough stored away to
last him comfortably for good many
years.
Jeffries is quite wealthy and shows
considerable business sense in many |
ways. He has saved a large sum from
his winnings and may class as a very |
rich man before his death if all goes |
well with his fight enterprises for the |
next two or three years.
Tom Sharkeye owns saloon and has |
boarded up quite a little sum Peter |
Maher is also said to be prosperous, |
although he is reported to have dropped |
so much money on the races lately that |
he is DESTROYS of going back to the |
ring and replenishing his bank account. |
Kid Mccoy is believed to have saved |
the Madison Square Garden netting him |
mt least $4,000 from the gate receipts |
alone. while he has picked up many dol |
lars since then.
Charley Mitchell has the reputation of |
being the wealthieSt pugilist in the |
world, and he and his father-in-law, |
Pony Moore, are said to be worth at /
least 100000. They have fine estab-
hshment in England. AS a strong con- |
trast, it may be mentioned that Peter |
jackson, who died recently, did not |
nave dollar in the world left out of |
his earnings