The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-05
DEMPSEY TO GET S27,5OO FOR BOUT
Rickard and Kearns Come to Agreement and Boxer
 Will Sign Contract Saturday.

Jack Dempsey, heavyweight boxer of Salt Lake City, was yesterday def 1ritely selected as the opponent for Jess Willard, heavyweight champion, in a title bout to be promoted July 4, by Tex Rickard. Rickard and Jack Kearns, manager for Dempsey, after & conference at the Biltmore Hotel came to an oral agreement. The men will sign contracts Saturday, when Dempsey will be in the city. For his end of the purse Dempsey will re- ceive S27, 800 and one-third of the mo- tion-picture rights.
 The Salt Lake City boxer Is now on his way to this city from his home after & visit to his mother. He Is ex- peoted to arrive late Friday or Satur- day.
 The guarantee promised Dempsey makes the forthcoming contest the greatest, financially, that has ever been undertaken. The plans already mapped out provide for an outlay of s202, 800. This does not include labor on the day of the match, minor incl dentals which Promoter Rickard has not calculated ,or the amount of the tax which will be levied by the State lin which the contest is promoted.
 The purse will be the largest in ring history. Willard Is guaranteed S1CO. GOO and Dempsey s27O00. The previous frecord for purses was made in 1s1O when Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries nattled at Reno, New, for a purse of S121, ,00O.
 Rickard plans to build an open-air arena which will cost at least $50, 900. This arena, according to present plans, will contain seating accommo- datons for 55, 900 people. The west ern promoter expects the contest to bring at least $250, 900 into the box office. He plans to assume the war tax burden himself. The prices of tickets will be from s10 to $50. At this figure, the promoter stated yes terday he thought prospective spec tators were paying all that could be expected of them. This means that Packard is assuming a possible out lay of s25,00o in government war taxes,
 The selection of Dempsey came af- ter long and at times heated con ference. Previous to tue arrival of Kearns, Promoter Rickard had de- clared positively that he would not pay more than $25.0o0 to the Salt Lake City heavyweight
 Kearns' first figure was one-thirf of the anouut that was being guar anteed Willard. Promoter RIcl5arC Immediately denied this. Alter somt nore talk Kearns proposed s3O,OO0 pointing out tEat he would be com. peded to refuse many offers for boutf for Dempsey between now and th4 date of the Willard meeting. Rick. ard pointed out that if Kearns ana Dempsey were so confident Of bea f ing Willard and taking the title. they should be more reasonable in thei, demands
 Subsequently Rickard made a prop ositiop that ne would give Denpse, $27.5oo guarantee, win an added s2, 500 tf the contest drew more tha, $25o,000. There followed some hag gling, and finally Rlokard propose, that the question be put to a vote G the newspaper men present vhethe Dempsey was to receive S30,O0O o $27,e00. The vote of nine writer showed seven for the smaller fgur and two for s39,CG0
 The promoter end boxers -narage then agreed t. post s5,00o each yhe, the articles are signed Sixty day before the bout Rickard will post 2 per cent of Dempsey's guarautee Dempsey, it Is provided, must be O, the scene of the contest six weeks be fore the day of the bout