The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-16
Surprising Statement of a Man
Who Knew Him.
PURSES WERE SMALL.
On a Theatrical and Fighting
Tour He Made Money.
Vision of John L. Offering to
Fight COrbett Seems Funny.

L. Sulllvan's challenge to Jim Corbett
last week the sports have been trying
to figure out just what object Sully had
in issuing challenge to the man. who
Vanqu1shed him at New Orleans many
years ago One man wanted to bet that
by simply running about the ring Cor
bett could tire Sullivan out so that he
would fall from exhaustion inside of
three rounds. Sullivan at present
weighs nearly 300 pounds, and it would
seem next to impossible for him to get
down to fighting weight
/ II sullivan and Corbett should be
matched what kind of a house would
| they draw?
The latter question cannot be answer
ed, yet 1t suggests one thing, and that
is that John L. Sullivan never made
any Dig money out of the modern prize
ring.
The largest purse Sullivan ever
fought for was when he met Corbett
at New Orleans. The total amount al
stake was $45, 900. The purse was SOC. 900
and the side bet $4,000. Corbett got it
all. sullivan went broke and practical
/ ~ quit the prize ring a poor man AS
rar as known he has never had any
great amount of money since and owns
lttie II any property. 1t is safe to say
| that Sullivan in all his glory never
made any big money in the ring. In his
| day there were no guaranteed purses
| and fights before reputable athletic
clubs were unheard of. His first fight
of any Importance, where there was a
| good piece of money in sight, was his
go with Corbett. Previous to that time
/ he fought on the turs and the gate re-
ceipts were nothing compared with the
big money pulled down by fighters
nowadays.
On his theatrical and fighting tours
/ Sullivan made but little money When
al Smith took him around the country
/ in 1883 and 1884 Sullivan is reputed to
4 q VIC a1a ~ r1eaI IL L--<
a man who ought to know the writer
CLEANED the information that Sullivan
had little or no money when he return
ed to New York.
belief that Sullivan never received any
big money in the ring is that he al
ways had some one to split up with
both purse and stake money. The
Dryers backed him for quite a sum at
one time. but of course the hackers were
not in the game for their health and
Sullivan got very little for his trouble.
1t is not an exaggeratiOn to say that
Sullivan never in his life made as much
money as Terry McGovern. Even Jimmy
Britt and Young Corbett made more
with their fists than the old warrior
who is advertised in his lectures to tell
what he did with million. Boxing I'M
der present conditions and prize fight
ing in the olden DAYS are not to be COM
pared from financial standpoint. After
whipping John l., Jim Corbett went on
ana IN a rev years time maze more
money than Sullivan ever dreamed OF.
Just think of it, the bout between Cor
bett and Mccoy, in Madison Square
Garden, New York City, drew nearly
$50, 900. That is three times as much as
Sullivan ever won in any fight. The
fight between Terry McGovern and
Frank Erne at the same place drew as
large if not a larger house. Sullivan
never had any gate receipts fight in
his day that could hold candle to
an Of a a hnU6 maintained
Most of his theatrical and boxing
tours that went down in history as
successes were really failures but the
facts were kept from the public. 1t
would be interesting to know from
Billy Madden, Al Smith, Pete Ken
nedy, Pat Sheedy and the others who
handled Sullivan in his palmy days
lust what amount of money Sullivan
mitted, was a very liberal fellow, and
on account of his popularity he spent
money like water, but one can hardly
believe that he got rid of anywhere
near a million dollars; and if he
did spend that much, no person can
show by facts and figures where or
when Sullivan got hold OF that money |
It is also a we'll known fact that Sui |
Ivan returned from France, where he |
fought Charley Mitchell, with but a
small sum of money to his credit. !
Various things happened in that fight
which did not bring good returns, and I
off had he never fought at all
SulIivan's tour to Australia was also /
a big financial failure, and the heavy |
expense of the trip kept John L. and /
his many friends for some time there
after getting things Strengthened out.
Where Sullivan is supposed to have
pulled down large sums OF money out
really did not make more than a few
thousand dollars above expenses, was
at the various shows and entertain
ments given by him in New York
city at the old Madison Square Garden
The prices of admission in those days
were much cheaper than they are
now, the highest. priced tickets selling
for the small sum of $40. The hall
was much smaller than it is now,
and consequently the gate receipts
were nothing to rave over Sullivan
had to give ALT Greenfield and the rest
Of the men who came over to fight
him from England large per cent of
the gate receipts, also expense money,
and as a result John L. had little left
when he split up with his manager.
Prices of admission all over the coun-
trv were vastly different than what
thew are now, so Sullivan, although
drawing tremendous houses. did not
ever. earn as much as some of the ordl-
nary men of the present time.
To Throw Pa1r Twice in Hour.
11e1u york. Feb 16.-Frank Gotch, the
,,,orI5,s champion wrestler, is to be seen
in New York very shortly. he mas signeo
10 I1aEio7, Of England in a handicap con-
test. which will be held at sulZer's Har-l
lem river casino, February "a The cham
Mon will undertake to throw Parr twice
IN one hour. Parr is probably the fastest
and most spectacular catch as catch can
wrestler in America today He, like
Eotch. has never before appeared in New
York.
Dugan Signs Players.
South Bend, Ind, Feb. 16.-Manager ".
Rugan has signed % men for the
Springfield (O) Central league team
Duean has arranged for exhibition games !
Lii. sis.1, ed :.