Evening star., 1920-03-06
MAT TITLE GIVING
STECHER FORTUNE
Graphing Crown Proving
Much More Profitable Than
Ring Championship.

(Which has the greater financial
value, the heavyweight boxing cham
pionship or the heavyweight wrestling
title?" queries a fan.
Theoretically the fistic title is reck-
oned as the more valuable OF the two.
but Joe Stecher is proving that ac-
tually the graphing crown is more to
be desired for the gold 1t draws. There
aren't any $400. 900 purses offered Tor
wrestling matches. 1t is true. but the
holder Of the title in the game OF
twist and tug has this advantage over
the kingpin mitt artist-he can per
form every night in the week. II ne
cares to, whereas the champion boxer
cannot.
There is another phase Of the mat
ter which must be taken into account.
Jack Dempsey vs.. Bill Jones or
wouldn't draw anything to speak OF.
but Joe Stecher VS.. Tom Brown or
anybody else is good for a well hlled
house anywhere. Just why this should
be SO is not clear, but it's so. never
theless.
No Bars Against 1t.
Also, the wrestling champion not
only does not have to be particular
about whom he meets, but he can be
country. for the reason that there Is
no legislation inimical to wrestling In
existence in this country or any other
country invaded by the mat men. As
a matter OF fact many Of the cities In
which ring contests are not permitted
lers. Chicago Is one OF these; New
York just at present is another.
For a true line on the to-day
earning power of the respective titles
compare the activities Of stecher with wi
earned an unsullied claim to the cham
pionship by scissoring Earl Caddock
into submission a few weeks ago. he
has engaged in many bouts. and has
others scheduled. Dempsey hasn't had
to pulp at Toledo on July last. and
not even he knows when he will next
appear in the ring. Dempsey's earn
ings in circus and motion picture
work. 1t is safe to assume, have not
been greater on an average than those
Big Field Open.
In his engagements since coping
the title stecher has touched only one
west spreads before him as a veritable
field Of the cloth Of gold. and he can
book just as many matches as he
wants to in the months that stretch
2ne4Q. FOR every m2tCn IN Wn1Cn ne
appears Joe draws down q substantial
sum. and his bank roll Is growing
steadily larger. He is a fellow Of sim
Pile habits and spends only a small
portion Of what he earns. He already
has amassed comfortable fortune
from his mat work, and in another
year or two he'll be disgustinsly
wealthy.
Second, third and fourth rate wres.
tiers also earn considerably more than
boxers OF similar classification. Sula
Hevonpaa. looked upon as the premier
clown Of the mat. gets more laughs
out OF the fans who pay to see him
perform than they do out Of him. for
Sula has prospered and now owns
more than one piece Of Brooklyn real
estate. So 1t goes. The inferior wres-
tiers do not get very much for in
dividual performances. but they &c,
| it often, and it amounts to something
taken in the aggregate.
To revert to Sula as an example OF
how the average wrestler fares finan.
cially, 1t may be pointed out that
through the summer months the burly
Finn takes a tent under his arm and
tours the sticks, meeting the local
champions and any one else encoun-
tered on the way, and at the end OF
| each summer he has a bale Of cash to
cart home with him.