Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-20
WILLARD GETS EASY MONEY
Joke Champ is in Fair Way to Break
All Records for Earnings in
the Ring.
WILL BEAT sU1LIvAN's MARK

WILL BEAT sUILIvAN's MARK
Jess willard IL In a fair way 10 break
ell records for earnings In the ring.
From the time when John l.. sullivan
won the title from Paddy Ryan back in
1852. no heavyweight champion has had
such opportunities to pick up easy money
as willard now enjoys. While Sullivan
still holds the record. Il took him ten
years 10 gather in the half million he is
supposed to have earned. Most OF that
sum was made while on tour meeting
all corners. with the agreement that he
must stop his man In four rounds or for
felt 1900.
There were no $4,000 purses for ten
round exhibitions In sullivan's day. In
fact. hts share Of the receipts from all
his championship battles put together did
not amount 10 as much a. Willard will
receive for sparring ten rounds with
Frank Moran with the exception Of his
battle with coFbett. in which he lost and
did not receive one cont. all were fought
with bare knuckles and for side bets.
The purses were too small 70 be worth
mentioning.
When Jim corbett began his reign as
champion DF QGACuAAn4 tuN hF~9e Soash
l.. he won $4,000. but OF this sum $1,000
represented the sido bet. This battle
created more worldwide interest than
any other before OF since except the
Johnson-Jeffries affair at Reno. And II
was q fight 10 a finish. All the loser
received was q sound thrashing. He not
! only lost the $4,000 he wagered but II
, ended his ring career and reduced his
earning power 20 almost nothing for a
long period st q tine when he was broke.
for he had thrown away hts earnings a.
, fast a. the money rolled In.
During the two years he held the title
Corbstt won, only one other big purse
. That was when he defeated Charley
!. Mitchell In three rounds At Jacksonville
an ieoG This was easy money for Cor
bett. as Mitchell thon was at the end
Of his string. Gentleman Jim received
I. 900 for his victory, $4,000 Of this rep
resentine the purse.
Fists "a Unfortunate.
OF all the champions E1tzsimmons was
the most unfortunate IN money matters
BY defeating corbess IN the fourteenth
round OF a finish fight at Carson City
l ne won purse OF ,i6ooa a side bet OF
! 5000 and Siaooo picture money. But
as the gate receipts ala not come up to
expectations. and a. FstEsiEnmons was
] interested In the promoting END. he re-
} oelved very little for his share when all
expenses had been met.
! In hts first battle a. champion. EftE-
! simmons Ieat the title TO jim Jeffries
I receiving the iosere end Of the fighters
: share Of the rate receipts. the amount
divided between them being tza0oo
JeffrieA was the first real bis money
maker so far ~ big purses are con-
: csrned. with his advent the side bet
: became more OF less q thing Of the past.
Lsgaiized boxing. conducted by well ap-
|" pointed clubs. came into being. and Il no
: longer was necessary to play hide and
J. seek with the sheriff In order to pull off
!. a battle IN some secluded spot known
!, only 10 the Favored few.
Yet, even under the favorable oondi-
!, tlons Of the Horton law. when the bouts
were staged either AZ coney Island or
!. right In New York City. the biggest gate
= drawn by Jeffries was eo6s so This waa
y the occasion OF his battle with Tom
sharkey az cOney Island. and the fight
ers split ts.tdS Of the receipts on q
basis Of % per cent 70 the winner ana 4
: per cent 70 the loser
The great battle between Jeferies and
Jim cOrbett At cOney Island. drew only
IS tso.ooe. according 10 the announcement
ls made by the club officials next day. o
NJ this amount. JeffrieA a. winner. receive,
" $500 and corbett sSsoo. However. II wal
D. rumored az the time that the receipt
he really amounted 70 $4,000 and that In,
ID ftghters each received a guarantee o
y $4,000.
10 Record for New York.
xt Three months later corbett and ici.
- ~ are "a a.
record gate receipts for New York caty
The Jeffries- Rubin battle at San Fran
- cisco drew $500. OF which Jeffries tool
II tlesoo for winning. His battle with FIti
simmons at san Francisco drew 81. 81
"a the fighters split 70 per cent on a 90 an
70 basis. Jeffries's end being SiSSSs an
" FtiK's S8leA Jefrs second bout wit
corbett. which took place AZ San Fran
a. clsco. drew 81 SO OF which the chan
pion received sS272s. Corbett's shar
would have been sl0.s09 but al the las
moment he insisted upon a guarants
OF $500 and thereby lost over 5000 n
ne wailoping Jack Monroe 70 sleep in "
az rounds Jeffries was paid ss.aSa, and n
ut seeing any more money TO be made l
ch retired.
20 Jeffsries Larsa Back.
al Seven years later Jeffries was lur,
AZ back 70 the ring BY the largest pur
.es ever offered. After the demand that
iof, come back and put Jack johnson m b
itn place had reached its climax Tex Ricka
- stepped IN ana secured the plum with
IL offer OF $4,000. richards estimate
We the value OF the attraction proved mo
el- sound than that of any OF the more E
70 perieneed. but less daring promoters.
~ after experiencing many difficulties
nk finally staged the battle st Reno. and
- drew sz75.77S, All told. Jeffries receiv