The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-29
HUGH '|NT0SHHA
HIS SAY ABOUT It.
Worlds Most Famous Fight
Promoter Says jeff Never
Could Beat johnson
(From a London EXCHANGE,

From London Exchange.)
Few visitors to England's friendly
SHORES have ever attained success In
quite so short q time In q new en-
terprise-for In Great Britain the
business OF promoting sports is, in
many respects, distinct innovation
As Mr.. Hugh D. Mcintosh, the
worlds most famous sports promoter,
who recently put up prize of $500
pounds. the largest stake ever offered
for a boxing contest in this country,
1or bout between Lang, the cham
p1on OF Australia, and Langford, the
Nght-heivyweight colored champion
OF the world. to decide which of these
two famous opponents of the fistic
art should have the prior right of
meeting the present heavyweight
champion OF the world, Jack John
son.
Mr.. Mcintosh has had plenty of ex-
perience Of the Offering Of big prizes,
for, In specially relating to the Tit
Bits man some Of his memorable ex-
periences as sports promoter, he
recalled the fact that, some years
ago. he gave Tommy Burns, then
champion Of the world, no less a sum
than 5000 pounds, win, loose or
draw, for contest with johnson at
Sydney. BURNS would not fight. for
less than that sum-" said Mr.. McIn.
toeh, in a matter-of-fact sort Of
way. 80 that, as I thought I could
see a good return even for that big
lump sum, agreed to give 1t him
and have never regretted the deal.
How did ! first come to promote
boxing contests? Well, all my life 1
have been keenly interested in the
sport, and used to box q bit myself,
so that on the occasion of the visit
of the American fleet Of Australia It
occurred to me that 1t might not be
an improbable deal to make q cor
ner' in all the principal places Of
amusement, athletic grounds, points
Of vantage, steamers and buses. Ac-
cordingly did 30, and It was while
occupied In finally fixing up arrange
ments that the idea struck me that,
from the point Of view, not only of
Australians. but also of American
visitors, it would be big draw II I
secured the services Of Tommy Burns
who was then champion of the world.
I'm the sporting world things hap
pen 30 quickly, and changes take
place 80 rapidly, that there was no
time for delay, 80 cabled to Burns,
who had by that time wiped out the
pretensions Of all the best heavy.
weights in England, offering him g.
900 pounds and two f1rst-class return
fares to come over. He consented at
once. and showed what clever box
er he was-he was only q lightheavy-
weight at his best-by defeating
Squires and Bill Lang.
The Great Burns-Johnson Fight.
$50 far. so good. Results, flnan-
cially, worked out we'll, for the gate
receipts for the Burns-Squires con-
test amounted to 1860 pounds, and
for the Burns-Lang contest, $500
pounds. Now, II the public will sup
port contests Of this kind in 30 gen.
erous manner I thought, surely
they will be still keener to see a
match between Burns and Johnson
for the latter was generally recognize
cd ON all sides as Burns most for
midable rival.
According, Tommy-why, by the
way, is really not an American at all,
but q French-C anadian-stated what
he wanted-6,000 pounds, as I have
said-for his end, and this I agreed
to pay. Then It was up to me to get
hold Of Massa johnson, who was in
London, though I. knew full we'll that
he was as keen as mustard on secur-
ing a chance of taking Burns num-
Der down. Fifteen hundred pounds,
win, lose, or draw, and three first
class return fares.' was the big bru-
nette boxers cable to me. I.replied
at once, agree to your terms And
the matter was fixed.
"The result Of that contest is now
ancient history. but readers Of Tit
Bits may be Interested to learn that
the gross takings from the cinemato-
graph pictures Of the Burns-Johnson
fight amounted to we'll over 100000
pounds. The pictures, too, were
shown in almost every corner OF the
globe. including such out-of-the-way
spots as Honolulu and the Fiji ISL
ands, to say nothing Of Borneo, Siam,
China. and Manila.
What was my opinion Of the Jonn-
son-Jeffries contest? Well"-here Mr..
Mcintosh spoke with more than usual
emphasis-"I never saw more DIS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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