Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-26
WILLARD GETS EASY MONEY
Joke-Champ is in Fair Way to Break
ALI Records for Earnings in
the Ring.
WILL BEAT sULLIvAN's MARK


Jess willard Is in fair way to break |
all 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. II took him ten
years to gather In the half million he is
supposed to have earned. Most OF that
sum was made while on tour meeting
ali Corners. with the agreement that he
must, stop his man in four rounds or for
felt $1,000.
There were no $4,000 purses for ten
round exhibitions In Sulivan's day. In
fact. his share OF the receipts from all
his championship battles put together did
not amount to as much as Willard will
receive for sparrinG ten rounds with
Frank Moran. with the exception OF his
battle with Corbett, in which he lost and
did not receive one cent, all were fought
with bare knuckles and for side bets.
The purses were too small to be worth
mentioning.
When Jim Corbett began his reign as
champion by defeating the great John
l.. he won $4,000. but OF this sum $4,000
, represented the side bet. This battle
created more worldwide interest than
, any other before or since except the
Johnson Jeffries affair at Reno. And 1t
was a fight to finish All the loser
received was sound thrashing. lie not
! only lost the $4,000 he wagered but II
! ended his ring career and reduced his
. earning power TO almost nothing for
!, long period at a time when ne was broke.
: for he had thrown away his earnings as
fast as the money rolled In.
During tho two years he held the title
Corbett won only one other big purse.
That was when he defeated Charley
Mitchell In three rounds at Jacksonville
In 1894. This was easy money for Cor
:, hett as Mitchell then was at the end
, u his string. Gentleman Jim received
$50 900 for his victory. $4,000 of this rep
n resenting the purse.
~ Fits IN Unfortunate.
n OF all the champions Fitzsimmons was
"A the most unfortunate in money matters.
N BY defeating Corbett in the fourteenth
! round OF a finish fight at Carson City
n no won a purse of $4,000. side bet of
- 1900 and $4,000 picture money But
"a as the gate receipts did not come up to
IA expectations, and as Fitzslmmons was
~ Interested in the promoting end. he re-
- ceived very little for his share when all
% expenses had been met
b In his first battle as champion, Fitz.
simmons lost the title to Jim Jeffries,
receiving the losers end OF the fighters
share OF the gate receipts. the amount
divided between them being $1,000
Jeffrles was the first real big money
g maker so far as big purses are con-
cerned With his advent tho side bet
n became more or less a thing OF the past
ne LOCALIZED boxing conducted by well APP
I E..4.
n longer was necessary to play hide and
e. seek with the sheriff In order to pull off
a hattie In some secluded spot known
as only to the favored few.
q. Yet, even under the favorable condi-
- lions OF the horton law. when the bouts
: were staged either at Coney Island OF
: tight In New York City, the biggest gate
!. drawn by Jeffries was 81. 800, This was
y the occasion of his battle with Ton
en Sharkey at Coney Island. and the fight
III ers split sS6, as OF the receipts on q
d. basis OF 90 per cent to the winner and q
per cent to the loser.
The great battle between Jeffries am,
JIM corhett at Coney Island. drew onl,
$4,000 according TO the announcement
4 made by the club officials next day, O
" thia amount Jeffries as winner, receive,
. 1880 and Corbett s6eoO. However II wa
q, rumored at the time that the receipt
We really amounted TO $4,000 and that tn
a. fighters each received guarantee o
o. 10000.
"a Record for New York.
Three months later Corhett and ~
100 Mccoy at the Garden drew SIS, $50, IN
M record gate receipts for New York City
The Jeffries-Ruhlin battle at San Fran
cisco drew $500. OF which Jeffries too
slSsoo for winning. His battle with Fit
- simmons at San Francisco drew S2i ~
u The fighters split 10 per cent on a 50 an
- 40 basis. Jeffries's end being siSSSs an
m FtiE's H,a& Jeff's second bout Will
y, Corbett. which took place at San Fran
II cisco. drew So. $40 OF which the cham
~ pion received sa2 7ss. Corbetts shar
would have been Si0.s0s. hut at the las
70 moment he insisted upon a guarante
mn OF $500 and thereby lost over 5000 FC
on walloping Jack Monroe TO sleep In tw
1t rounds Jeffries was paid sS.SS2 and n,
AT. seeing any more money TO be made h
es' retired.
ga lotteries Lured Rack.
at Seven years later Jeffries was lure
eat back TO the ring by the largest purl
nds ever offered. After the demand that
Il come hack and put Jack johnson in h
re' place had reached its climax Tex Rickai
stepped In and secured the plum with
offer OF $4,000. Richards estimate
the value Of the attraction proved mo
nc sound than that Of any OF the more e
W perienced. but less daring promoters. 4
emit after experiencing many difficulties
OK. finally staged tho battle at Reno. and
his drew sS76.T75. All told. Jeffries receiv
aid ni7.Oss and johnson $4,000. these sun
this excludins bonuses and picture pri
mt ileges,
very unpopular champion, Johns