Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-23
TEX RICHARD IS THE
WISE OLD REWARD

: The big bout for the worlds heavy
weight pugilistic championship that is
destined to be held somewhere ON July
4. 1918, between Jess Willard, cham
pion since April 5, 1915, and Jack
Dempsey, contender for the crown, is
attracting much attention, particu-
larly in Idaho since the passing of the
new 20-round boxing law March 6. as
it is felt that Idaho, by reason of her
climate and natural advantages, should
have the big go.
However, in spite of offers from Po-
catello, Idaho Falls. Alan, Lewiston
and Boise. promoter Richard keeps as
mum as an oyster, and SO far has not
popped off at the head with anything
about his plans for staging the big
match.
Tex is a fox. He realized that the
public demanded the championship
crown rest on the head of other than
a black man, hence he arranged the
fight between Jack Johnson, champion,
and Jim Jeffries, ex-champion, at
Reno, Nevada, July 4, 1910 from which
johnson emerged victor.
In order to guarantee the crowd,
which had travelled all the way from
South America. Cuba, Canada and all
over the United States, a square deal,
Tex refereed that memorable fight
himself When he jumped through the
ropes to handle the fight in the ring
he carried with him an automatic gun
in his pocket to defend himself against
any crooked work.
A broiling sun that blazed over the
o.
| miles out of Reno at the foot of the
Sierra Nevada mountains. made it SO
| warm for everybody, including Rick
ard. that he removed his coat in the
third round Tex tossed his buster to
Billy Recap, Philadelphia sporting au-
| thority and referee, and asked him to
look after it. The late John L. Sulli-
| van had seat to the right of Recap,
and as Richard placed the gun on the
table where it would be handy in case
he needed it, 1t was SO placed as to
glare into Sullivan's eyes every time
he would turn around. John L. stood
It while, and then blurted out:
Turn that thing around; / don't want
| to have 1t staring me in the eyes all
| through this fight" John L. was ac-
! comodated.
| There was no trouble nor interior
| ence. and the fight went to a finish
and a knockout for johnson in the fiji
teenth stanza. The battle at Reno was
a record breaker, Its figures have
never been equalled in the history of
the ring.
The purse was 100000. which
johnson won. Jeffries received $4,000
for losing; bonus of $4,000 and $685.
e6s for moving picture privileges. to-
tai OF S1I7,0s6, The total gate receipts
were $270,750. Eo it can be easily COM
puted how much Richard cleaned up.
/ And 1t will show that his offer to Will
lard for worlds title match is not
such . ridiculous one; a mere 100000
is nothing to Richard.
i And from this it might be CLEANED
that Pocatello. Idaho Falls and other
towns making bids for the big battle,
haven't got ghost Of a chance with
their little mere pittances. such as
3l65,000 and up to s2O0.000 Mr.. Rick
ard, II he pulls that fight off-and he
4 win, no doubt--will draw down some
thing like s25o.0oo for motion picture
i rights alone.
What Tex wants Is place to fight
and then he is going from there with
i the big bout. He has his eyes on the
New York and Illinois laws. but since
six rounds Is the limit In Illinois. that
eliminates that state from getting the
match. The New York law. allowine
Il IL rounds. might cause Tex to think
a bit, but 1t il the guess OF q man who
has bunch that the fight will be
either pulled In the west or New Or
leans.
And why not right here In little old
Hoiss7 Guess tho old town would set
lon the map for sure then. 4hf