The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-10
FIGHTERS WHO WIN
DRAW BEST PRIZES;
Taxing is LOST ART
ny FRANK G. nENKE


Boxing is more honest than It used
20 Debut not exactly because the
boys OF today are squarer shooters
oy nature than were the old timers.
In the other days It was a good bus
mess stunt-presumably-to fake a
defeat once in a while. That took the
glamor OF greatness of certain war
riors and gave them battles with men
who earlier had lodged them.
But nowadays it's good business for
tighter TO wtn-and mighty poor
business for him to lose A few de-
feats viii chop fighters earning ca
pacity about so per cent, for loser
isn't box office attraction-and pro-
motors want nothing else.
An instance IS Fred Fulton
Prior to his defeat by Jack Demp-
sey. he got big money Afterwards
his offers were about oneIthird what
they had been before. He gradually
came back TO the pinacle again and
got good purse for fighting Harry
Wills. Once again he was knocked
over; once again his earning power
dropped precipitately.
Not so long ago Fulton fought in a
semi-final In Philadelphia where the
average admission price was 81. and
the house didn't people 5000 persons.
Tom Gibbons defeat at the hands
of Harry Greb cost him dearly. Had
he won, Tom could have named his
own price for future fights-and per-
haps gotten a crack at Dempsey. AS
It is, Tom has to do his Comeback"
IN the sticks" where his average
curse is only about one-third or one
fourth as large as he could have COM
manded had he beaten Greb.
Wins Increase Money.
Every time a fighter wins these
days 1t enhances his earning power
from 10 to 20 per cent-sometimes
100 per cent-according to whom he
beat and how clean-cut his victory
was But defeat-especially decis-
i've one-and blooie goes the big
money.
1t was somewhat different in the
olden days. Then gamblers were con-
nected in dominant way with the
game. Many big gamblers had Sc
cret interest in the destiny of a fight
Grand used that fighter as more OF
a gambling tool than anything else.
A fighter would win or lose in those
days, according to which way the
smart money" was wagered.
Secondly, some great battlers of the
hygone era had considerable difficulty
finding opponents. The average ring
man didn't want his career ruined by
being hammered cuckoo. So he'd re-
fuse to mix 1t with the star performer
unless that fellow either agreed to
Ego easy or to take 'lay-down.'
Therefore, many good men, just to
keep themselves busy and earn some
sort of money, had to indulge in fakes
Usually the framed affair went through
as per schedule. But once upon time
the best plans failed.
Dope Was Upset
That was in Chicago on Feb. l, 1910
when Terry McGovern agreed to let
Eddie Santry go the six-round dis
lance. All the wise money, OF
course, was down on Santry to last the
route; the presumed suckers" bet that
Terry would put Eddie away.
All went well until the fourth. Then
Santry, knowing he was scheduled tc
go the full route and wasn't in any
danger, spanked Terry in clinch
That action upset the dignity Of Terry
and when Eddie repeated the trick
with the ringing of the bell and the
crowd roared in laughter, Terry be
came Infatuated.
I'm going to kill that fellow in this
round" blazed Terry, as he sat in his
corner in the fifth.
mo, mono, you mustn't do that
his handlers snapped back at him
Hes to go the full six.
He won't go fve-and | don't give
a damn about any arrangements-no
body's gonna spank me- snarled Terry
as the bell rang.
Terry fairly hurled himself from his
corner and made a leaping attack upor
me startled Santry. He was once
again the whirlwind McGovern; botf
fists flying, heart, mind and soul as
we'll as body in the attack. He drove
Santry around the ring as a gale blows
grain, bowling with each punch:
You'll spank me-you'H spank me
will you?"
Santry tried to fight back. He nigh
as we'll have attempted to stem Mag
! ara at the brink. The blows came non
. every direction-and with hurricane
/ force. The round was little more thar
half over before Santry crumpled-
and was counted out
And, as a result. the sure thing
gamblers suffered a terrific setback.
But taking, in the years since then
8 has become something of a lost art
The BOYS are square" shooters-anC