The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-25

Prize fighting, along with beef
steak. silk shirts, shoes and stock
ings and pasteurized milk, has gone
up, says the Kansas City Star.
1t would be unwise to hazard O
guess that a famous namesake oil
the winner in the latest battle turned
over in his grave when the total re-
ceipts at Toledo were announced, fol
there Is no positive proof that any
one ever turned over in his grave;
but If the spirits OF the departed
fighters of ancient times got together
July there must have been an awed
conference relative to the things that
were taking place on this mundane
sphere.
An item In the sport columns OF
the Star way back in 1890 says that
Jack Dempsey, the Nonpareil mid
dleweight champion of the world, has
challenged George LaBlanche. the
marine, to fight to o finish for q
purse of $4,000"
LaBlanche accepted that challenge
and in the fight that followed he won
by the use of the now despised pivot
blow, which has been barred in Mar
quis of Queensbury contests ever
since. The losers end in that battle
in which a former Dempsey was
knocked out, represented naught. He
was not even allowed training ex-
penses.
Loser Got Nothing.
And while the Dempsey of old, who
had punch like the Dempsey OF
modern times, lost on tluke and
later redeemed himself, he went
down to decisive defeat at the hands
of Robert Fitzsimmons few years
later and got nothing for his pains
And Fitzsimmons. who won the mid
dleweight crown at New Orleans
had to be content with purse of a
few thousands of dollars.
When Fitzsimmons later fought
Jim Hall in New Orleans the house
was worth $4,000, but Fitzsimmons,
who won by the knockout route, got
very little of it.
Jeffries and Johnson, fighting in
Reno, July 4, 1910, set the top figure
up to that time for paid attendance
at prize fight. Mr.. Richard was
the promoter of this affair, too, and
| 900. Each of the principals got in
the neighborhood of 100000.
One hundred thousand dollars! II
would sound unbelievable to those
old timers of the ring could they re-
| turn for a brief moment and survey
| the ground.
AS champion of America, John L
Sullivan made and wasted fortunes
| but compared with present prices for
| champions Sullivan received puny
| rewards for his long string of vic
| tories. 1t was in the theater exhibit
| tons that followed his victories that
Sullivan reaped his golden harvest
The record shows that Sullivan
won the championship and the belt
| from Paddy Ryan in February, 1882
The contest, lasting nine rounds, I'M
der London prize ring rules, was
| staged in the open near Mississippi
| City, Miss, and the men fought fol
a side bet of $5,000--and that only
A trainload of sports" gathered
| in spot secure from the enforcers
of the law, saw the gruelling battle
and for the ten years that followed
| Sullivan fought at frequent intervals
and large purses were unheard of.
Fought rs Rounds in Sun.
In 1889, near Richburg, Miss, Sui.
| Ivan defeated Jake Kilrain after
seventy FIVE rounds of fighting under
a broiling hot sun, and besides re-
tanning the championship, won a side
bet of $4,000.
Not until Sullivan was matched
with James ]. Corbett, who con.
quered him in the twenty first round
at the Olympic Athletic club in New