Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05


n the famous Toledo fight be-
ANN tween Willard and Dempsey
~ and while the country was
still talking about the new
champion, found ! had made about
$4,000 despite the small attendance.
That is not much when you consider
the immense amount of money had at
stake, or ra her that had invested. I
had paid out $4,000 for the arena
and had paid the fighters s127,500. The
expense on top of that was enormous.
We took in s452,00o. When every
thing had been paid my proflts were
close to $50,000 This would show that
I had at stake 100000. For an affair
Of that kind a promoter expects to make
more than Is per cent or it wouldn't be
worth the risk. You will see that my
profits were in the neighborhood of II
per cent.
Jess Willard knew very we'll the sto-
RIGS going around about his having quit
He never said a word. though. The
terrible beating he received and the un-
just cries of quitting that went around
the sporting circles completely unnerved
him. He stayed away from reporters
and went into seclusion., He wanted
only the company Of his family.
Wizards Feelings Hurt.
know that Willard suffered much
more humiliation than the public ever
understood. In his seclusion he longed
for a chance to get back at Dempsey
not so much to regain the champion
ship as to wipe out the sting of the for
mer's defeat. He never liked the fight
game and candidly said so.
After a long rest willard quietly went
into training with the idea of making
Dempsey suffer the same humiliation
that he had suffered. He consulted his
friends All Of them were against his
going through with such plan. Even
that didn't stop him.
He came East to see me. Late in
1921, believe 1t was, he met me in
New York. knew then just how much
to heart he had taken that defeat. He
wanted revenge.
I took the matter up with Dempsey
and Kearns. There was considerable
talk and dickering, but the upshot was
a belief that the public would not be
interested in return contest. This hurt
Willard very much.
Here is what he wrote in a letter to
an intimate friend. It will give a
clearer idea of his mental workings and
ought to do away with that talk about
his not being game:
jess Decides to Quit.
q
"Until a few months ago had a no.
ucn would be given chance to meet
Dempsey in a return bout; and convince
my supporters that could repay Jack
for the manner in which he treated me
IN Toledo, but now I'm through for
good. 81 e<e.s.sas
II really had q sincere desirecto re-
enter the ring. not for the purpose Of
regaining the champi onship, for hon
estly believe couldn't do that, nor do
believe there is living fighter in to-
days crop Of heayies who could turn
the trick, but for the purpose OF giving
the champion take little OF the hu-
initiation and drubbing was forced to
take that sunbaked day in Toledo.
"You know, was In the ring there
ehcck-full of confidence, and was get
ting squared away. when with one leap,
before I could realize that the fight
was on, Dempsey crashed his powerful
fist against my jaw and i was fiat on
my back. was down before I ever got
started, and that was something new
for me, I was simply dunlbfounded
didn't know what had happened.
never saw anything like that before
That Dempsey is some fighter; don't
let anybody kid you. He sank his fist
three inches into my belly It burned
into my stomach. And still there are
some who say ! quit.
Sees Chance for Revenge.
well, there is one thing, and only
one, wanted very badly, and that was
to get another crack at Jack I'd know
better the next time. He couldn't work
that hurry-yp gag on me again. All I
the same stuff. he handed me. I feel
confident could do that, because feel
that now I'm stronger and much big
ger. / feel that Ii ever we meet again
I would knock that guys block of or
he'd knock mine off, and that before
he did that he would take a lot out of
the ring with him that he wasn't look
Ing for. Yes. he would have something
to remember me by and know how !
felt after that Toledo affair"
Willard stayed away from fights for
Q long time. When he came back in
1928 ! am sure that he still had that
spirit of revenge, that he still smarted
under the former talk of having been a
gutter. But the time had passed. He
could not do 1t. He did lick that fellow
up at the Yankee Stadium on the day
of the milk fund fight, but when he
went against Firpo. che South American
was too strong for him.
the unhappy Jess, there were some who
said that he quit to Fifpo. knowing the
man as I do, though, / do not believe
1t. ! think he did the very best he
could.
That Toledo fight out of the way, I
took up the matter of promotion as a
profession. For a long time had my
mind on Madison Square Garden. ]
knew that New York was the largest
fighting center Of the country.
In the mean time the Walker law
had been passed in New York, which
permitted fights to a finish and q
Gets Lease on Garden.
There had been much talk about the
famous old Garden being torn down. In
fact. some of the tenants already had
moved out. The place had never been
a paying proposition and the owners OF
the property and the mortgage holders
figured it unbusineSslike to keep II
going at loss.
That gave us the chance. With my
associates I succeeded in getting 9
lease on the garden.
Prom the moment established my
headquarters In Madison Square Garden
I devoted all my time and energy u
promoting boxing and other sporting
events.
what it costs TO operate the Garder
might be interesting. ] will attempt
make it clear.
Next - Why Women Make Bes
Judges Of Fight)
Copyright. 1929. by North American News
paper Aliance.)