Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-03-11
Garden Pride is Hurt.

MI 1AN 4NIC, ana despite the novel
efforts of Schmeling himself to
promote a title fight with Braddock
this year in Berlin, the multiple in
terests backing the Chicago bout are
going right ahead because (a) they
have the inside track, and (b) they
know they have the biggest heavy
weight money-maker available.
All OF which, my dear Watson,
means that Madison Square Garden,
having already lost Richard, most of
the original 900 millionaires" and
much Of its f1stic prestige, now SEEM
hlgly has lost its exclusive hold on
the heavyweight industry, including
the title holder This is significant
along Cauilf1oWer alley, even though
1t hardly calls for an amendment to
the Constitution.
The blow is more severe to the Gar
den's pride than to its balance sheet.
The heavyweight title has been more
OF a gold brick than gold mine since
Richard died in 1929. Pugilism, I'M
dernllned by racketeers. was on the
skldS, as matter of fact, before the
celebrated Wall Street crack-up took
the flnanciers' minds off their hstic
hobby. Boxing nowadays comprises
less than per cent of the Garden S
financial operations. due not alone 10
the decline of its fistic interests, but
also to policy of building up prestige
In other spheres of sport.
Richards Grip Firm.
THE great Richard, nevertheless,
would have seed nuthin' like it."
II he could return today to find his
successors holding an apparently
worthless contract for the next heavy
weight title fight, while rivals 20 for
ward defiantly with arrangements for
championship match in Chicago,
scene OF Tex's greatest extrava ganza
in 1927. During his promotion career.
ranging from the Jeffries- johnson
hight at Reno in 1910 to the Sharkev-
Strlbling bout at Miami Beach in 1929,
which he did not live to see, Richard
never lost control of the heavyweight
situation.
The twin answers to the Garden S
present plight comprise ca failure to
prevent rivals from getting contrui of
the central figure in heavyweight box
ings recovery, Joe Louis, and 90 the
decision of Champion Braddock to
run out" on his signed agreement to
night first under Garden auspices in
defense Of the title. The pretense that
the Chicago fight does not provide for
the championship being at stake is
sheer hokum, even though it NAV
serve the purpose of legal loophole.
Tries to Land Louis.
HE Garden tried hard to land the
Eastern rights" to Louis in 1885.
The Brown Bomber. already a sensa-
ton in the Middle West, was lined up
with the Chicago Stadium, which
manifested reluctance to enter a work.
Ing agreement with the Garden. While
the dlckering was in progress, Michael
Strauss Jacobs, Broadway ticket
broker and one-time ally of Richard
executed a flank movement and
plucked Louis off the fistic plum tree.
Whether at fault or not the Garden
was left out on the limb, with Louis
under contract to Jacobs g. Co. until
1910.
Three months after the Garden
barely made expenses with the Brad
dock-Baer title go, Jacobs built the
Louis fight into the first $1,000
600 match OF the post-depression era
In 1886 the Garden was Shut out"
completely, with the Jacobs syndicate
promoting the years big match,
schmeling-Louis, and the original
plans for Notwithstanding match
in September collapsinp