New-York tribune., 1919-02-05
Dempsey to
Fight Jess
For S27 500
R;ckard Comes to Terms
With ChaIlenger--Biggest
Purse e Ever o ffered d
Bv w. O. Mcclellan

lack Dempsey will box Jess Willard,
.,s heavyweight champion, for S27, 500
~ July 4th st some place to be desig
,.+sd later by Promoter Tex Rickard.
wizards end of the purse will be
soOOOO. as has been already agreed.
The total purse, S197,5OO will be the
largest ever offered for prize fight,
he;pg $4,000 in excess of the amount
Maid bv Richard for the Jeffries-J ohm
son fight. which drew gate of S27o,-
600 at Reno, Nevada.
Rickard came to terms with Jack
Eearns. manager for Dempsey after a
brief conference at the Biltmore Hotel
! last night. There was very little of
the haggling that took place during
the signing of Willard and Frank
Moran. Kearns at first held out for
third Of the amount, which was to be
raid Willard. Rickard offered to "split
the difference" and make it $27,500.
Kearns then agreed to let the deci-
sion rest with nine newspapermen
present as 20 whether the share of
Dempsey should be S27,500 or $50, 900.
The newspapermen voting in secret bal
lot passed for Richards offer by vote
Of z TO ,. Kearns submitted to the
decision, and the formal articles will
be signed when Dempsey arrives in
New York Saturday.
Agrees to Post Forfeit
Kcans has agreed to post forfeit
Of $4,000 to be put up sixty days be-
fore the date of the fight. AS soor as
the Dempsey forfeit is posted Rickard
will cover the money with Il like sum-
The place of the fight is still left in
the air. 1t was understood both by
Willard and Kearns that it would be
held in some city where decisions are
permitted, if that is possible.
For once promoters, fighters and
managers seemed perfectly ready to
agree without waste of breath or white
paper. Certainly there was less hag-
Cling over terms and money thar there
mas been over some of the petty
larceny bouts that have been held here
and elsewhere.
Besides the purse each fighter will
receive Z third of the moving picture
rights. The remaining third will go to
Rickard. With the interstate law
against moving pictures of prizehghts
the value of these rights is problemat-
ical. Also something will depend upon
the result of the battle. Should Demp-
sey win on knockout and become the
heavyweight champion of the world it
would enhance the value of the picture
considerably
To make profit on the fight COM
l. III ;,1--
figuring on gate of at least $4,000.
He plans to pay the government tax,
the state tax and to build an arena.
vhich will cost in the neighborhood of
$4,000. Besides that he will have to
pay income tax.
Big Gate Needed
1T will take just about quarter of
million to make the fight worth
while" said Riekard. II am sure that
1t will draw the quarter of million. It
may even 60 three hundred thousand
or better. That will depend a great
deal on where it is held and on the
boxing laws Of the state where it is
held
The West is pretty crazy about
Dempsey. There is plenty of money in
the country and people will so in for
anusements this year. | am sure that
wouldn't be going into the thing"
The remarkable part Of this agree
ment Is that both Willard and Dempsey
are really confident. Willard has been
taking better care of himself than has
been supposed and is certain that he
viii come out Of the battle with his
fitle and the hundred thousand dollars.
Dempsey and his manager see visions
of a million 10 come and of a prestige
that will rival that Of the late John
l. Sullivan 1t seems q genuine con-
nasnce n this case. That is one of
the reasons why Kearns was ready to
close the agreement with Rickard and
omit the traditional period of holding
cut
,Kearns arrived at the Biltmore,
where Rickard waited with Ike Dorgan.
ss lieutenant, held in reserve. Kearns
saied from the sordid question Of lucre
Is ne perused the articles which had
osen signed By Willard.
What we want is decision. 1t
Meu.d be stipulated in the articles.
ssppcsIng that you should be forced
Y. hold the fight IN Philadelphia
Aearns shuddered at the dismal pros
pset) then it would be six rounds
gitaeut a decision, and what would
ths. get US ?"
can = put taar IN The articles
ncv," said Rickard- "Willard wants a
eeelSion, too, but we may be forced to
agat where decisions are not per
n's:ed. In that case, should there be
10 knockout, the winner will havc to
reg on popular verdict"
hearns admitted that thia seemed
Fsasoaao.e Now, about money
Yes, yee,' murmured Ike Dorgan
pens.Yeiy.
;, Dempsey, as ycu will admit con-
lh2ed Kearns, "is a great drawing
card You can't get any one, with the
Exception Of Carpentier, outside Of
dempsey 70 fight Willard and draw"
-, oernpBey is tde best card" admitted
Eiekard frankly.
Then think. II Willard gets a hun
essd thousand, Dempsey should get a
salfo- He has worked and fought his
E@g up and there is something COM
'sg 10 MIN"
II Dempsey knocks Willard out he'll
rare a naf million in a year" re-
sftsa kickard, "and l won't be getting
ne doesn't whip Willard s25,-
" Is more than he is worth. I have
.sae up my mind to pay that and no
..Isr, Ihsr about a share Of the receipts ?"
sssed Kesrns.
Predicts New Champion.
~ sot share" said Richard firmly.
- gamble and II ,,,f, ~~;x ~