The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-24
IIlc CHAMPIONS
SET RICH QUICK
Willard Has Collected S275,-
600 Since Johnson Fight,
LEONARD MAKING MONEY
Jeffrles Retired From Ring a
Wealthy Man.

Since Jess Willard hoped out Of the
Jack johnson he has collected in the
nslghbcrhood OF t2T6.0eO.
This sum came from fight. exhibl-
tions and other little side money that
20 with worlds title.
In all the years since Jack johnson
shuffled off the crown that bespoke fistic
authority Willard has engaged In Just
one championship bout aud that was
With Frank Moran in New York But for
Jess's efforts In Madison Square Garden
that night he drew $4,000,
Benny Leonard hasn't been cham.
piOn n year yet, but he has been fight
Ing with considerable speed ever since
ths rainy night when he clouted the
marx OF lightweight supremacy off the
brow OF Freddie Welsh.
2 He has taken In several thousand dol
lArs In that time, and only recently Dick
Curley announced he stood ready to give
Ben tho biggest cut OF a $50 900 po, II
he would consent to battle Charlie
White somewhere In the east. Benny
hasn't taken on Chicago Charlie yet, but
he Ia likely TO do so st any time now,
pvsQ II Charlie has been relegated TO tho
hssSbeen and never-eould class IN the
opinion OF most ring followers.
kllbsne owns Property.
= Johnny Kilbane. King Of the feather
weights, won't have TO battle the wolf
the rest OF his HE II he goes rssy and
doesn't throw money away Since he
whipped Abe Attell Johnny has had few
dull seasons. In Cleveland he owns con-
siderable property and IL something Of
Q business man.
Kilbane's fortune has been estimate cd
In six figures and that probably Ia whore
he belongs. For his disastrous affair In
Philadelphia with Benny Leonard Xii
bsne drew more than 10000, and he
wasn't In the ring three rounds. Since
that time he has done no boxing and
says he won't until the war In over, at
least Hut II probably won't hurt his
hank account any 10 linger without the
padded circle. for he already has ac-
cumsiated sh ,,,,, enough for one flstlc star.
the lightweight class he usually made II
q rule not to fight for less than SIS 900,
and several OF his purses ran over that
In fact, he pulled off $4,000 when Fred
dc Welsh Induced him 10 riHk his title
In England. For his endesvors with Ad
wolEast he shared SIS 900 In cold. hard
Iron men, He had n huge purse when
he met Charlie White Ia Milwaukee. and |
there was another tremendous load for |
him 10 carry to the bank when he fought |
Leach Cross In New York
Jsfffles Retired Rich.
Jim Jeffries retired a rich man, and |
- did Jack Johnson. They demanded
and received enormous purses for ex-
hibitinx their bulk In the ring game.
Jack johnson had we'll developed habit
- never stepping into ring for less
fAan 10 1000. and that sum was always
guaranteed him When Jeffries met
Johnson In Reno for the worlds heavy
weight championship there war n crowd
pfeeent which paid more than tl0l 900 |
10 eee the two gladiators. Jeffries car |
He'd away the biggest slice OF this.
Pete Herman. the bantamweight cham |
pion. hssn't made such an awful lot OF |
money since he succeeded Kid williams,
bot he has been getting along IN a
Iashion. His match with Frankie Burns
recently nj New Orleans set new rec
ND 10 attendance and receipts for n bout
between bantams He took the biggest
Ihare Of this with him when he went
nome that night 10 tell the new Mrs. Gu
alta that he had successfully defended
me bantamweight championship OF the
world.
Mike Gibbons isn't recorded a. the
worId's middle weight champion. but that
o Just what he 10 and his bank account
proves II. Mike has business interests in
~ Paul that would look good TO many
! capitalist