Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-30
NAMED AFTER LOU DILLON !
JACK DILLON. MESSENGER.
GETS NAME FROM HORSE
Ernest Price Didn't Sound hight for
Prize Fighter, 80 Ills Name
Was Switched About.

Icy Brill. the indianapolis scribe.
tells how he discovered Jack Dillon.
light heavyweight champion, one Of
the greatest boxers OF his weight the
ring has ever seen, and how Dillon
got his start:
About nine years ago" says Izzy,
Il was acting in the capacity of match
maker for an indianapolis membership
organization known as tho Merton
Club. Monthly boxing shows were
staged at this club, and exceptionally
good boxing talent was used. At that
time Fortville Kid Brown was con-
sidered about the best lightweight in
Indiana, and Jimmy Kelly was another
boxer with good record.
Il matched these two boys TO try
conclusions for six rounds for the
main event. ON" day previous TO the
date of the contest Kelly was taken
seriously i'll. and naturally had 10
search about for suitable substitute
for Kelly.
lack Dillon in those days was
messenger boy for the Western Union
and in his leisure hours lie would don
the gloves with some OF tho lncsscn-
ger boys in the basement OF the Vest
while seeking an opponent for
Brown at the club TO take the place Of
Kelly, younGstef by the name of
Wick Davidson. who had seen Dillon
box some of the messenger kids, came
to me and inquired If there was any
chance OF matching any one in one Of
the preliminaries on the Marion Club
card.
Il told him my preliminary card was
all filled up, but needed a good boy
TO meet Brown. Davidson offered TO
he recommended kid 10 me that he
swore could lick his weight In wild
cats.
whats the boys name YOU want
His name is Ernest Price, but we call
him 'Pricey." he answered rs his
hair parted in tho middle. ana does he
wear glasses; can't use a fellow
with such Sissy" name as Ernest
told the booster. Well, Davidson
agreed to bring Ernest around 10 the
him put on the gloves with some OF
the boxers taking workouts around the
Apollo Club. 1t was not long before
Ernest was brough, around. lie was
a huskily-buiit lad ana good looking
and looked like "a real boxer. He was
not tho kind OF IA looking chap that his
name might make one believe.
Dou you want 10 box tomorrow
reply. viii YOU tackle nrown@ lie
is good boxer, you know, lie suits
me fine, was ErncSts reply. Ernest
was taken up TO the training quarters,
where he donncd the gloves with Sow
eral OF the big fellows. II did not take
long for hHl to impress me The fight
ers whom he boxed with swUrc that
he was a ringer ana no, a novice
II luckily happened to meet Willard
Sanders, "a former driver and trainer
of Lou and Sidney Dillon. noted race
horses. Sanders was great boxing
fan and he wanted TO Know who
had matched for the Marion club show.
explained 10 him that I had origi-
nally matched KID Brown with Jimmy
Kelly. but tho latter took i'll and
had substituted a boy ~ the name OF
Ernest Price, but tina, name would
not do for boxer. must give him
a real name. Anyhow. his mother
might read in the papers about him
fighting and sh" may object, told
Sanders. 'Is he good with the gloves?
Sanders inquired. ilo can step some
told the racchorsc man Well my
horse can step some. IF he is fast
name him Dillon.
THAT struck mo fine, I3ut how about
his hrst name Should call him
Ernest Dillon II WAS finally decided
TO call him JaCl; Dillon. and il was
In his bout with Fortvillc Kid Grown
that he crtabliahci the ring numc or
Jack Dillon Jack was seventeen years
old then and weighed Us pounds when
procured f"r him his initial bow he
fore the public"