San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-23
ant Expect Another Rec
ord Purse for Some
Time, If at All.
HEY GROW, AT THAT
Slices" for Battlers Have
Been Steadily on
Increase.
BY ROBERT EDGREN

IDempSey is OlIereu S4oo,OOV Win
|rcentage privilege to box Tommy
bbons on July 4 or Labor Day.
Is,A-ssght to be plenty of money
pay Dempsey for all the work he'd
I've to do in a ring against Glib
ms. Tom has enough speed and
fverness TO give Dempsey busy five
six rounds--unless Dempsey hits
| n before that amount of time had
fpsed.
Zone has to go back only four years
recall the first time in ring his
" that any champion was offered
100, 900 for a fight. That was when
|illard met Dempsey, and Willard
Fitting Dempsey for 100000 was
lite different from Dempsey fight
Gibbons for 100000. In pro-
.rtion TO the risk and the beating,
lizard should have been paid
lple of million.
Purses have been climbing during
} past % years. When Jim JEFF
S fought Tom Sharkey a terrific
[rcund battle for the heavyweight
lmpionship Jeff and Sharkey to-
her drew down $50, 465.
The purse paid both fighters when
ffries knocked out Corbett in %
Inds. back in 1908, was $43,63S
u that stood as a record for a big
rise paid couple of fighters until
Il0. when Jeffries fought johnson
Reno.
Each Man Got $60.5CO.
This was when Tex Richard ap-
bred as a promoter of heavyweight
lmpionships. He offered purse
100000 and gave each fighter a
nus Of $4,000 'for signing articles
king total of S121 900. When the
hit was proposed it was to be win
take all. but the end the purse
S split $3.50, so each man drew
|wn $60,500 and about an equal
cunt in moving picture money.
Sain a world record for purses.
This stood until Richard ran the
llard-Dempsey fight at Toledo, WITH
new record purse. Willard re-
we'd a flat 100000 which at that
be was considered likely TO be the
gest purse ever paid any boxer.
A4a+ received S27, 800, making to-
purse Of S127,500 Later Demp-
received 100000 for fighting Bill
ennan in Madison Square Garden.
only big fight Richard ever lost
ney on. rsss EtEt.t
|Then in 1921 came the Dempsey
rpentier fight at Boyle's Thirty
res in jersey. City, with the amaz-
purse of half million dollars, of
ich as stakeholder, / paid Dempsey
bO,O 900 and Carpenter 100000.
ey both got the exact amount adver-
Id to a dollar. 1t was real $500, 600
rse. For that matter, / believe
tkard never has padded" his purse
nouncements for advertising pur-
Ees, as some other promoters have
he at times.
Circumstances Unusual.
There were surrounding circum-
noes that made it possible to offer
great purse for Dempsey and Car
hitter. and it is unlikely that the
f-million-dollar purse ever will be
keeded or that conditions will ever
fifty offering such money TO boxers
hin. Dempsey was Il great champ
but he had made a poor showing
the early rounds of his fight with
enIan, suggesting the possibility
t he might be losing his speed,
ich would give the Frenchman n
hnce. Carpenter mad knocked out
glish champions Wells and Beckett
couple of punches each. and had
sily outclassed Levinsky,\ the light
lvyweight. in his one American ap-
irance. Georges was the most pic
(esque figure in the ring, noted not
v for a brilliant ring career but
thrice decorated war hero.
The fight had an international thrill
1t won't be seen again unless some
i heavyweight is developed abroad
4 comes here with a real chance TO
1t our champion fol world honcrs.
-thassssse, Richard may go over
hafffnillion mark for new record.
t such a, happening is unlikely.
No More for Present.
There's nobody in sight who could
w anything like the Carpenter
mpsey crowd when matched with
mpsey, 80 Dempsey isn't likely to
wv any more 100000 purses this
II.
The 400. 900 offered for Dempsey
bons is big money today. A Wills
hit would draw a crowd of curious
bple. but would entirely lack the
timental interest that made Demp-
Carpenter such n card. Wills
ISN'T class with Langford or john
at their best.
As for the rest of the bunch, all
It could be hoped for would be a
td-fought bout for a few rounds,
III slim possibility that the chal-
ger might put over winning punch.
at wouldn't bring any S1,626,5SO
e!
Dne thing that has to be figured
tn these big purses is that the old
be champions got their money. There
no crushing income tax in their
Jeffries and johnson, having no
nagers to split with and no in
ne tax to pay, did fairly well. But
Ell Dempsey got his $500, 900 he had
manager to divide with and an in
ne tax to pay that made his $500
look more like the traditional
cents"
'ier was rot hetter off. for
kidss S2litting $3.50 with Descamps,
If-.faa cJ.he TAX TO pay n..e
second tax on his purse in
ance. which have left him about
bngh to bug a rattle for the baby.
Copyright, 1923, by Bell Syrdi-
e, Inc.)