Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-16
BOXING LAW is SEVERE TAX
Extra Charge to State is Liable to
Cut Down Number of
Clubs.
HARD TO MAKE THEM PAY

NEW YORK, May 15.-'Tt will not be
long after the new boxing bill becomes
law that the number OF clubs In New
York state viii dwindle to. a handful"
said Jimmy Johnston. matchmaker OF the
Garden Athletic club and the manager
OF the 81. Nicholas Athletic club In an
interview today. THAT clause in the
Malone bill which calls for q tax OF 7Sk
per cent. instead of the per cent that
now prevails, will sound the death knell
OF many clubs that are Mt present doing
business" he added.
"The trouble with most boxing pro
moters n that they don't conduct boxing
shows In buslnessiilke way" said john
ston. 'srhe manner in which some match
makers stage bouts would necesstate
there being go per cent TO divide instead
OF 100 per cent.
''1n the making OF a match, pro-
meter should not give the boxers moro
than 70 per cent OF the receipts, except on
rare occasions. and then only when he
feels sure they'd attract a record house.
What's the use OF conducting shows just
for the sake OF handing money over TO
the fighters.
ANY person who wants to run boxing
shows successfully should employ moth
ing but business methods He should
DO sure before he ciinches a match that
ne will make a profit. Outside OF the
main bout there are numerous bills to
pay. First, there IL the state tax, then
the rent. llghting referee. prelimInaries.
advertising and club employees. These
expenses win take anywhere from 2S ia
40 per cent. 70 Il viii be seen that II the
boxers get 20 per cent. there isn't much
OF a chance Of big profits. unless the
card IL an unusual ons.
TAX out OF Gross.
'srhe reason think that the ~ per
| cent tax will XIII many OF the clubs now
! running Is because all the match-makers,
or most OF them, will be Obliged to pay
out just as much for the other expenses
rs now. II II the hardest thing In the
world 70 convince thu boxers, especially
those from out Of town. that the tax has
to come out OF the gross receipts. Many
Of them have an idea that the promoter
takes this money Tor himself.
Under the new order OF things pro-
moter will have to do all kinds Of econ
omixing In order 70 make any money
for himself. But he can do 80 II hs
sticks absolutely 70 business methods
Hundreds OF clubs failed with the pei
cent tax-and with IA per cent tax
Wowi
There isn't any reason why a pro
moter can't make money on every show
First. he must make matches between
men OF the same weight. You cant
match q 400 boxer against a $3.50 boxer
and expect TO draw q good house. You
must match men OF the same ability
That this will prove profitable was dem
onstrated by me In conducting shows
at Madison Square Garden this season
There hasn't been a knockout in main
bout. which bespeaks the closeness OF al
the bouts. Consequently l was the first
man 10 make boxing pay In the Garden
Make Equal Matches.
TN the ST. Nicholas rink have made
money-and I'm the first promoter 70 dc
tail because I match men Of eQual
ability and give the fans good run fol
their money.
Freddie Welsh, the worlds lightweight
champion. has drawn more money int
the Garden than any other boxer. And
would you believe II. Welsh has been an,
easiest one Of ali the boxers 10 Sign
This 10 because his manager. Harry Pol
lok. names his price and sticks TO II
Pollok likes 90 see the promoter max,
money, and Il not like lot more boxer
ana managers. w'ho.. n they find ou
4 that you made money on their previou
4 engagement. will demand 80 much 10
3 ther ne9t appearance that you'd be
2 sure loser II you re-ensaged them
3 ''one Of the things that has helped I
}. decrease interest IN boxing Is the all-sta
/. cards IN which talent for two or thre
. shows - used iip IN one night. N
! thsater would think OF putting ON tire
n big plays in one night. nor should an
= club think Of putting on more than on
I, star bout
Keep Dead Heads Out.
Dead heads should be kept out Of a
clubs NOBODY but newspaper men an
those who haze business there that nlgi
should be allowed into a club free
q charge. some fellows have been In n
e habit Of going up 10 the ticket take
> and forcing their way into a club. II n
u ticket takeT protested he was sluEEe
d None Of these fellows would think
IL trying 70 force their way into = theate
II they did. they know they'd be srreste