New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-16
TEX Liked BIG
men IN The ring
lack Kearn Sold Dempsey to
Famous Promoter
BY GEORGE kIRKSEY
Cnited Press staff Correspondent


thought Dempsey was too small be-
fore he won the championship. He
liked big men.
| Just exactly when and where
Rickard and Dempsey first met is
not clear. Dempsey said the other
day that he first met Richard at
Goldfield in 1911. but it is doubt
/ full if Richard was in Goldficld at
that time. 1t is believed that Richard
had already left for South America.
Dempsey did not begin fighting until
1915.
II was just kid at that time and
II doubt if Richard remembered
meeting me at al" Dempsey said.
Anyway. Mr.. Rickard first began
around 1915. Richard did not put his
finger on Dempsey and say. "Thcrc's
the next champion and the greatest
drawing card the boxing game will
ever know" Keavns was the only one
who said that
! IJtluHStS HdI p'''i1 NdS' III 'fV ''-
der the management Of John the
Barber and Lew Raymond, but he
did not make Favorable impress
sion. He won 10 round decision
over John Lester johnson but the
big Negro caved in Dempseys ribs
and laid him up for time.
In 1915 Dempsey returned east mn
der the management of Jack kearns.
This kid is the next worlds
champion" Kearns told everyone
who would listen 10 him. Few did.
Dempsey was matched with Fred
Fulton, the Minnesota plasterer,
then among the outstanding con-
tenders for the title. They met at
Harrison, N. j.. and Dempsey scored
one OF the quickest knockouts on
record. The fight was over in II sec
onds. with Fulton stretched on the
canvas as II dead.
Now Kearns started his campaign
for Willard match.
Jack Curley. who had promoted the
Dempsey Fulton match. was too
busy with other things to listen TO
Kearns. Finally kearns got Ricka I'd
interested in the match.
"Dempsey's too small for Will
lard" Richard kept telling kearns.
even after he made up his mind to
attempt to promote the bout.
Richard wanted to stage the bout
in New York city. but decision
| In, Nov, Narl
state at that time. Richard was
looking around for site when Ad
Thatcher. Toledo promoter. came ia
New York. He persuaded Richard
that Toledo. accessible to most OF
the big midwestern cities. was the
logical place TO hold the fight.
Rickard signed Willard for a
100000 guarantee. the largest
purse offered fighter UP to that
time. There was disagreement as
to what Dempsey should receive
Kearns thought Dempsey should re-
ceiye az much as willard.
Finally it was agreed that IL
newspaperman present at the con-
ference would decide Dempsey
guarantee. Each one wrote what he
thought Dempsey was worth on 8
slip Of paper. The average sum wal
3.7.5oO and that was the figure
Dempsey signed to fight Willard
for.
Dempseys size Che weighed
around $50 In those days. continued
to perpiex Eickard even after The
fighters started training for thu
bout. Willard weighed oI5.
) kid. you look awful small II
, me-" Rickar'l said to Dempsey. "d'
. you really think you can lick him?
: The fight was held July 4. 1919
: The giant Willard was slashed Il
pieces by the tigerish Dempsey. VIII
lard was counted out in the frs
round, but the bell sounded befor
2 the referee completed his count
r Dempsey, who had left the ring
, was brought back and he hammere
Willard to submission in the mex
J round. Wizards seconds tossed Il
the sponge when the bell rang TO
the third round as Willard was TO
weak too assume a fighting position
! He was led from the ring pitt
8 able sight. his face hammered I
u CORY pulp.
The receipts of the Dempsey
lard bout were s452.J22. and Rick
ard made profit Of about 10000
after he had paid all expenses. IN
:. gliding the erection Of the arena.
Rickard and Dempsey rode t
: fame together. kearns played
:. major role at the start. but he late
= drittei out of the picture when il
split With Dempsey. 1t is doubt''
If eitl Ter Pickard or dempsey woul
u have been as successful without tn
other.
Ricliard promoted all but t"o {
Dempsey fights for the title. Floy
i'itZsinmons promoted The dempsey
. V'iske fight at Benton Harhor. Mich
, in 1920. The Dcmpse Gibbons tsl
: vas promoted by group Of Mon
tana men at Shelby. Mont.
In the seven bouts which Eichar
promoted With Dempsey as a primo
raj the receipts totaled s9.l64,SG1.
, s.
!. After Dempsey split with kcarr
late in 1928, dempsey turned I
u I.iclsard to become his mana ger. hr
- Tex turned him down. SAYING:
y III help You and adyis" Vol
l. Jack. but / can't become your mar
: agcr."
n Nevertheless. EIckard was fir.
l. qucn,ly accused OF managing Deny
e sey. Jack Sharkey openly charge
l.ickard with being Dempseys mana
& ger shortly before the promoter
s. death. Richard merely laughed {
q Shart,ey's accusations and said: