The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-03
.theScree1l
! ofSport
by AAsS S.S~MA&e,y

sums in the Garden, but it was neces-
sary to use that property often during
the remai nder Of the year 10 make 1t
pay the expenses. Mr.. Richard. who has
achieved considerable fame az Il promo
ter. was willing to get into the deal.
But 10 make the Garden pay II was
necessary to have many shows OF var
!ous kinds. Boxing. Of course. offered
q big chance. But the matchmaking end
presented a problem The men who were
supposed 70 make the Garden pay could
not figure Que enough good matches 10
draw paying crowds.
Leo Flynn Springs an idea
Leo Flynn is a wise old fowl and I'M
der his gray thatch Of thinning hair ne
has concealed some ideas. He was
strictly UP against it for suitable
matches.
Now. up 10 that time We had not been
much worried about the commcrcialtsm
OF sport. nor had there been much talk
of huge purses. The managers and
lighters an devcry one else concerned
we're busy figuring the pork and bean
percentage which was before the spag-
hetti percentage was TO be figured at
all.
Leo had an idea in his head-and his
Idea was BANTAMS. He had watched
night crowds. and he believed that the
fans would father watch bantams than
any other boxers. He suggested star
bout between Joe Lynch and Jack
Sharkey. Richard. wise Snowman, filed
up with the idea OF heavyweight lights
and lightweight championship bouts.
yelled loudly. He declared that bantam
weight battlers had no place IN the
Garden, because the public didn't like
them.
But there was no other good match
in sight Flynn had his way. He sent
for Mead, manager Of Lynch. and Wag-
ner. manaHer Of Sharkey. Mind you,
Sharkey was then one Of the big bets
and Lynch extremely popular on the
west side of New York. Mead had to
take a bracer or two before he had nerve
enough TO ask for $500 fro his boy.
Wagner had more courage and asked
$4,000.
Flynn was dubious. He refused 10
give the boys what they asked. and in
sisted that each accept 20 per cent OF
the gross The managers yelled and
wept. but finally accepted.
Public Shows its Desire.
Three days before the date OF tho
fight not a ticket had been sold. Every
one was weeping. Two days before the
fight it was raining. The promoters
were discouraged. In mid-afternoon the
crowd extended two blocks from the box
office and the bugs were fighting to buy
seats. The bout drew about $$6,oOO and
the fighters who had demanded $500
and $4,000 received over $500 each.
The fight made the bantam weight
popular Or at least 1t revealed 10 the
promoters the fact that bantam fighters
are among the most popular attractions
offered. Since then the bantam class
has grown larger than any OF the others
and has produced the finest Fighters OF
any class.
Jack Sharkey twice drew down $4,000
for his share OF fights, Joe Lynch drew
81 400 and $4,000. Pal Moore clever
and Shifty man without n punch and re-
powncd as a clever slapper, has drawn
down fortune. Roy Moore. Young
Montreal Joe Burman. Carl Tremain,
Kid Williams and Il dozen others have
made big money
And this is not To mention Fete Her
man. OF New Orleans. who received S25.-
900 20 defend his title. and who perhaps
Will command even more money when
he tries TO come back
The bantam has proved the most pop
ular OF all classes. and that aga INST the
judgment OF the wtsest Of the fight pro-
motors.