The Washington times., 1929-01-10
PROMO Err
TRUSTED
BY ALL
BY Jack Dempsey
FORMER Worlds Heavyweight Champion
Copyright. 1929. by King Features
Syndicate. Incl

Former Worlds Heavyweight Champion
Copyright 1929. by King Features
Syndicate. Incl
NEW YORK. Jan. 10.-Tex
Rickard did millions of dol
lars worth of business with a
solid handshake and his word
as the only contract.
He was trusted alike by friend and
foe. Whenever he made a statement
and sealed it with handclasp it was
definite and final.
In two years he paid me $3.50, 900
and not a scratch of paper was
signed between lis. 1t is typical OF
the business dealings of this great
promoter who was buried here yes
terday.
Scores of men who passed he
fore the bier in Madison Square
Garden had the same experience
with this greatest Snowman OF
all time.
Richards business method. were
considered unsystematic b. eff
cheney experts out re drove hard
for hours before agreeing to articles.
But once he agreed it as final and
whether Rickard personally Won
lost or broke even, he paid off as par
the agreement.
II YOU left it to Rickard you won /
receive more than if you signed con-
tracts.
first met him in GOldfield. after
he had jumped to fame as the
Oromoter of the historic Gans-Nelson
fight.
was Just a boy and had been
fighting off and on. Naturally
was attracted to him because OF me
huge purse he had offered for that
contest. He was an impressive per
sonalitv then as he ruled IN friendly
fashion over the leading amusement
center and recreational mecca OF
old Reno.
don't believe j made any
RntnressjOn on him at that time
but | am sure that meeting was
permaneHt fixture in my
memory.
It was many years later when
Rickard and l met again. had
lust defeated Fred Fulton and was
considered the logical contender for
the heavyweight championship OF
the world then held by Jess Willard,
1t was in December, 1919, and
we assembled in the Claridge Hotel
in New York City to discuss ar
raneements for championship
fight. At that time Rickard was
tremendously impressed with VII
lards size He felt that l mig
be too frail a competitor for the
giant champion.
Here's the big fellow" was tie
Introduction with which l was pre-
sented to Rickard on that occasion.
He paused a moment and stepped
back to take in my full size.
Gosh. he is a big boy" de-
Clared Tex as he shook hands
with me. adding, "much bigger
than l thought"
Then we got down to the bus1
ness of discussing articles for the
contemplated championship fight.
How much money do you think
you ought to haVe?" Rickard asked
pointedly.
How much are you giving the
Champion" we countered.
One hundred thousand dollars,
he said. frankly.
We'll. then Dempsey is worth
that" declared one of my associates.
Not to me-" fenced Rickard.
"Then We'll fight for nothing" !
said. Tex would not permit that.
A long, violent. disOrganized
conference followed. Then out
Of the confusion one OF the men
asked for silence, and addressed
the gathering.
"There are number of news
papermen here he said. They
have heard both sides of this situa-
ton. Let them each write on
piece of paper the amount OF money
they think Dempsey should have TO
meet the champion" There was A
pause.
THAT suit you. Dempsey" we
were asked 1t did.
and you. Tex He agreed
There were 13 newspaper men in
the room. Each of them wr0te A
figure on a slip, folded it and
tossed 1t into 4 hat. The figures
on the slips We're tota!lAd and
divided.
."The figure is $27 800" the spokes.
man announced.
And. that is the unusual way i'm
which my end OF the fight which
brought me the worlds heavy.
; weight championship was decided.
It is typical Of Tex" the 'cduar
est shooter of them all.
Tomorrow the third vt back
DemDsey's own story. TEX and l."
will appear In this newspaper. II is
a remarkable tale nf this modern
Damon and Pythias" friendship
between two world known char.
aCtersl.
FIGHTING PLAlDS