The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
TEX MAKES FINAL
SALT LAKE SPEECH
Talks AbOuf Paying Over Purse
if Fight Does Not Take
Place There

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. IS
Tex" Rickard, the principal promoter
OF the Jctfries- Johnson fight came. out
fat footed tonight in statement de-
claring that the contest would be held
in Salt Lake City on the fourth of
next July. This statement Is made in
such positive terms that the fight fans
here are celebrating tonight and
money Is being freely offered that the
ght viii be held here
Rickard has gone further and voiun-
tarily has offered to post the entire
purse In the hands of Stake Holder
Tim Sullivan, and in the event of his
failure to carry out his part OF the
contract. authorizes sullivan TO pay the
entire sum over TO the fighters. In
this connection Rickard says his only
interest in the affair is the pleasure
and excitement incident TO il, and he
gives this as his only reason for en-
tering the promotion of the contest
After three hour formal meeting,
which followed all day conferences and
looking over propositions and guaran-
tees. the announcement was made on
the authority Of Rickard himself that
the Jemries- Johnson A. round boxing
contest would take place in Salt Lake
city
Tonight Rickard mailed the following
letter 10 Big Tim Sullivan of New
York city, who is acting as stake holder;
You. AS an official stake holder
of the Jemries-Johnson boxing con-
test on next july 4, and I as partner
Gleason
cisco. as promoters of the 45 round
boxing contest, wish TO officially
notify you that the battle viii take
place in salt Lake City.
/ wish further TO notify you that
stand ready at any time to post
The entire purse with you and IN
the event of official interference. or
through any cause or fault OF the
Utah authorities the boxing con-
test being stopped, 1 authorize you
TO pay over the entire purse of
S10l. 600 posted with you TO the
proper representatives Of James J.
Jenries or Jack Johnson.
TEX" RICHARD.
Rickard gave out the following state
ment.
From the very first I was in favor
of salt Lake City as the scene of the
contest between Jeffries and Johnson.
~in naming Salt Lake City 1 am not
o5erstepping myself My agreement
with my partner, Jack Gleason, gives
NE the privilege of naming the place
or holding the event BY this power
an naming salt Lake City, or a spot in
jas immediate vicinity.
81 came over from Ely, New. to be
present ct today's conference. The rep
rcsentative bankers. businessmen and
professional men at the meeting assure
me Of the positive guarantee to hold
The meeting in Utah Their word is
good enough for me.
NY announcement brands as lies the
Trar-5aa
lately saying that I was holding a big
stick over san Francisco TO offer me
bonus fn order 10 hold the bout there,
and also stating that Salt Lake is i'm
possible for the meeting between JEFF
fries and Johnson.
Right here ] wish TO state that l am
not in this game TO make any money.
Contrary To other libelous reports, 1
auI not broke Still l would much
prefer being broke to telling the lies
that have been circulated about the
handling Of the Jeifries-Johnson battle.
Besides my partner in many of my
deals. ole Elliott. stands ready TO part
with $4,000 OF his own money which
hc places Ut nay disposal.
Il wish to announce positively that
salt Lake City is the place"
IL is announced that the event is to
bc a boxing contest of 45 rounds and
The state laws Of Titan do not prohibit
boxing contests governor Spfy IS now
in the east
II was announced tonight that the
feht would be held al Saltair, on the
shore OF the Great salt lake. Tex
Rickaud and a party Of businessmen
visited Saltair this afternoon and after
considering other places available. de-
cided upon it, The pavilion was orig
inally used for a bicycle track and VIII
have = seating capacity OF between &c.
600 and q. 900 persons when remOdeled
and made ready for the fight.