The Washington herald., 1909-05-02
FIGHTERS OF OLDEN DAYS
MODEST IN THEIR DEMANDS

But even this hard luck did not seem 10
bother MIN. for he soon made many
friends al the jali and was treated Ike
a prince Goss was the best natured pu-
sulst ever knew. He could also enter
tain with comic songs and coed stories.
he had a big heart and was one OF the
most popular fighters that ever came 70
America from England
7 Charley Mitchell fought Jack Burke on
the Ascot race track in England in ISL
for Sesa a side the battle lasting one hour
and seventeen minutes TO draw. 1t was
hght with the raw 'uns. and both men
rs q result served six months IN prison
Mitchell fought a le- 0f hard battles
for less than half that amount
''The first big money he got WAS when
De boxed sullivan the first time in Mad
ison Square Garden. I might 60 on and
cite a hundred fights where the old pugi-
lists put up rreat battles for as much
money IS the modern pug pays his tailor
for a suit % clothes, but I think III turn
20 the money mad side OF the case.
There's Jack Johnson. the new coon
champion. dreaming of g &aa909 purse,
and q. -. HHlman. Of Seattle. decie i'm
Ing he's ready 60 give that sum for a bait
tie between the negro and Jeffries.
think both the fighters and the promoters
who talk about a s 80 purse must BE-
smoking some new kind Of money mad
pills.
There's no place in the world that VIII
draw that amount cf money unless the
fight could be pulled OH in Madison
square Garden. and that's ouly another
dream, because the authorities would
never stand for il.
There's Battling Nelson. The light
weight champion. declaring that his price
IS Sl5o03 for ten rounds. win. lose or
draw SuH. Jack McAuliffe fought g
slashing serentee1-round battle with Jack
HOPPER sllin-tight gloves, for 500, and
mind you. McAulife was a far better
! light-weight champion than Nelson has
shown himself 10 be.
George Lavigne. who was NcAuliffe' S
successor 10 the title. got only $3.50 when
he defeated Johnny Griffin in ten rounds
at the old Seaside Athletic Club at Concy
l Island. and let me tell YOU Lavigne, in
/ his prime. would have Walloped Mr- Nel-
son down aad out inside Of ten rounds.
KeteheIrs Big Demands.
The new middle-weight champion. Stan
/ ley Ketcheii, wants at least $1,000 to box
ten rounds with any OF the lesser lights
+ N his class. Packey- Mcfarland is an
other high priced fellow who usually de-
mands $3.50 for ordinary ten-round goes
and much more money when his opponent
+ is a crackerjack
Leach Cross. who has been whipped By
Mcfarland and Driscoll. asks $3.50 fol
ten rounds. but might fight for S2.00O II tht
/ other fellow looked easy Sailor Burke
{ also demands S2509 for limited-rounC
/ bouts, but VIII take less with second rat
ers. Tony Ross, who was beaten by Kauf
man the other night, thinks that de
nsand for N.o09 for a ten-round contest
extremely modest.
Its a fact that big clubs in this cit
ike the National and Fairmount have no
made any money because the fighters asl
ana receive so much for their services
I The only way the clubs can protect them
selves IS TO combine and cease outbddinl
one another for star bouts.
"They should agree on q fixed limit 70
lpurses. say $500 for ten rounds. a half
hours work in the ring How many &C
tors OF professional men get 5000 70
thirty minutes toils or course, I hav
taken into consideration the fact tha
iDugilists cannot fight every night, bu
stiii they ought 20 be reasonable in thel
demands and give the clubs chance
while the big fighters are overpait
the smaller fry are generally underpaii
You know there are many willing boy
who go into the ring night after night fo
2 couple Of dollars al a time, and the
often put up q better fight than. tn
swelled head champions.
'They just punch away, thinking tha
some day they VIII reach the top Som
OF these poor little scrappers have r
homes. sleeping anywhere and everywheT
/ and going half the tine without prope
food. Many Of them subsist on free lu1c
when IN training. zoe.