Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-24
Willy MANAGERS
MAKE BOXERS
SUCCESSFUL RINGSTERS USE
SAGE ADVICE
Really Wise Glove Men Allow Foxy
Diplomats to Govern Their Move-
ments in the World Of
Fistiana

pro and con whether or not It Is to a
fighters advantage to have a manager,
and whether the latter is really worth
the seemingly exorbitant share he
sometimes receives of the fighters
earnings.
Facts prove there is but one answer
the really wise fighter will have
manager and the smartest one he can
find. With a few exceptions, and they
are extremely rare, every fighter who
has attained prominence within the
last 20 years or who has accumulated
large amount of money, has had his
ring career directed by manager.
In the first place, publicity, pretty
nearly ass much as ability, has to do
with the making of a successful boxer.
There is but one way to get it and that
is through manager. He mixes
around with the newspaper men, club
promoters and fight patrons; he spends
his money freely; he never let's a
chance slip by to boost his man or tell
a story about him that will be printed;
he never speaks of his faults, but al
ways of his virtues; he keeps posted on
sporting events and reads the papers;
he has a good chance to gauge his
mans popularity and to estimate his
drawing powers, and always has an
eye to the main chance.
When it comes to signing with
club he will try for the best percentage,
often with u 10 per cent bonus on the
size; he incorporates stipulations in
the articles of agreement that work to
the advantage of his protege he in
sists on a delight and a time for weigh
ing that suits, and, best of all, If his
fighter has a reputation, often picks
out the comparatively easy ones and
SideSteDs the hard ones,
Proves a Diplomat
If there are several clubs bidding for
the match, he works both sides against
the center and selects the offer that
looks the best, and oftentimes gets
twice as large a purse as the fighter
himself minus manager, would have
secured. That is not fiction, but facts
that can be verified by any representa-
tive manager or club promoter. One
needs but look over the list of latter
day boxers to see that those who were
really successful had the guiding hand
of an astute manager to guide them.
Probably the most successful of all
was George Dixon. and the way in
which he was managed by Tom
O'Rourke is familiar to all who pre-
tend to know anything about the box
ing game, says a New York correspon-
dent of the Cincinnati Enquirer
O'Rourke watched over him like a
guardian angel, protected him in the
newspapers and picked out opponents
for him that would draw the most
money.
He was probably the best managed
boy in ring history. Jim Corbett had
the willy Brady to send him to the fore
and the gigantic task the latter had
in digging up the $4,000 side bet for
the Sullivan fight is well known. Had
1t not been for Brady the stake might
not have been secured and Corbett
would never have been able to gain
the prominence he did.
Brady also made Jeffries champion;
at least he secured for him the oppor-
tunity of contesting for and winning
the title McGovern had Sam Harris,
Frank Erne was looked after by the
late Jim Kennedy, Peter Jackson was
piloted by ParSon Davies, Peter Maher
had John ]. Quinn.
All Had Managers
George McFadden was guided by
Billy Roche, Timmy Kearns by AL
McMurray, Joe Bernstein and Light
weight Jack O'Brien by Jack Dough-
erty, Gus Rubin and Billy Madden,
Joe Cans was loked after by Al Her.
ford Oscar Gardner was managed by
Paddy Sullivan, Bob Fitzsmmons by
Martin Julian, Jack Root received in
structions from Louie Housemann,
George Gardner from Billy Pierce, Dan
Creedon and John Hopkins.
Some of Joe Choynski's most import
ant contests were fought when he was
managed by Parson Davies. Kid Broad
was looked after by Joe Macias Young
griffo was guided by Hughey Behan.
wilmington Jack DAILY and Wild Bill
Hanrahan took orders from Sam Fitz-
patrick, as did Joe Wolcott from Tom
O'Rourke. Kid Carter first began to
attract attention when Charley Bangs
managed him. Jimmy McHale had the
Kentucky Rosebud in most of his i'm
portant fights.
Although Jimmy Britt was supposed
to be managerless, his father and
brother Willie had lot to say when he
signed for a fight. Tim Callahan did
business through Billy Roche. Tommy
Murphy has Johnny Oliver Battling
Nelson has Billy Nolan, and the Danes
worst enemies will admit that Nolan
has surely been good to him. A hun
dred others could be cited. All of the
above make money, and a couple of
columns could be filled without ex-
hausting the list
The three supposedly shining exam
pies of successful fighters who man
aged to get along by their own efforts
are Tommy Ryan, Kid Mccoy and
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. While
none of them had an out-and-out man
ager, they all received advice from out
side sources that was beneficial. While
in certain of their fights they did have
somebody to look after their affairs.
Ryan Took Advice
Tommy Ryan often went to Parson
Davies or Sandy Griswold for advice
when knotty problem presented itself,
while Kid Mccoy had George Grant
and George CONSUME to fall back on
when he needed advice. While O'Brien
is popularity supposed to have done his
own match making and managing, he
has always been influenced and advised
by Walter Schlicheter, the Philadelphia
sporting writer.
Had 1t not been that the latter was
married and had position on his paper
that would not permit leaving home for
a protracted stay he undoubtedly
would have been associated with the
clever Quaker in the same capacity that
ORourke was with Dixon or Fitzger-
aid was with LaVigne.
AS it is. all of O'Brien's fights in the
east, especially around Philadelphia,