BOXERS’ FORTUNES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2499, 12 May 1909, Page 7

BOXERS’ FORTUNES.

SOME FINANCIAL UPS AND DOWNS.

(London. "Sporting Life.”) Some of the fistic heroes are now enjoying the fruits of their past prowess, while others are giad to accept che bemwolenco of the charitable. The most notable example of a financial fail among boxers was that of the late George Dixon, who died penniless, although he mado upwards of £BO,OOO during his career- -dost of his story is pretty well known,' but I am familiar with some facts that few possess. When the Maverick Bank, rf Boston, U.S.A., failed George' Dixon had on ■deposit there £IB,OOO, and he had a bit of real estate and other kjlcings in Boston as well. The bank eventually paid back every penny, but as last as it would declare a dividend Dixon would "blew” it on the coterie of bloodsuckers who never forsook him while he had a dollar to spend. Dixon’s great rival, Griffo, who coined money during his brief career in tho States, is at present in Chicago even worse than penniless. Jim Hall, who had a fortune once, is now holding -a menial job in a racing s tab o in California. Peter Maher, who should be wealthy, has got to work to keep his family going. George 1 avigue, Joe Walcott, Tommy West, and numbers of ■others who made big money, are now busy keeping the wolf from tie cioor. LOST TWO FORTUNES; MAE t.sG A THIRD. Bob Fitzsimmons, one of the gieutest of prize-winners the ring has ever known, has made and lost two fortunes, and although ho is deriving an excellent income from his music-hall engagements, he is thousands of pounds short of where he should be. With Bob, however, the cause has not been dissipation, hut downright ill-luck in speculative ventures. t John L. Sullivan, who really made more money than any man who ever donned the gloves, a few years back had nothing whatever to show for his rich harvest. He had spent it almost quicker than he made it, but he has proved himself man enough to cut out dissipation, and since he did so he is prospering steadily. Charley Mitchell has been long considered the wealthiest of ex-pugilists, hut Tom Sharkey now occupies that place. Sharkey has the first dollar he ever earned —what he got he held—and to-day he has a saloon opposite Tammany Hall, New York, that is a regular mint, real estate that has increased in value by bounds, and is so well fixed that he does not need to worry about the future. Tommy Burns must have made £40,000 during the short time he held the championship, and as he is a remarkablo business man, may be relied upon to increase it. Jim Corbett is another who went clown to bedrock only to take another tack. Since he has been acting . in vaudeville he has accumulated bis. The wily Hoosier, Kid M’Coy, married a lady said to be a millionairess; Jack O’Brien has salted his earnings in Philadelphia real estate, and is among the nabobs of the ring; Jim Jeffries letgo of his-.money quickly, too, but bis ’’Alfalfa farm and his saloon and boxing club in Los Angeles, California, bring him in a comfortable income. Tommy Ryan was as clever out of the ring as in it, and is now enjoying life on his enormous farm in Michigan, having other investments that pay well. Poor o’d Peter Jackson died penniless, while his great antagonist, Frank Slavin, went to the Klondj'ko broke, but got on all right, and has prospered. Jimmy Britt can live at the H-.-roI Cecil, and take life easy from the income he derives from his big block of i apartment houses in San Francisco, the foundation of his fortune having been made in the ring. On the other hand, Young Corbett and Terry M’Govern, his former adversaries, both of whom amassed wealth, have got to keep working. SOME STRIKING CONTRASTS. Battling Nelson is believed to he worth £40,000; Billy Papke has £14,£OO as a nest-egg, while his successful rival, Stanley Ketchell, aside from a motor-car or two, lias little except his share of his last contest. Joe Cans is another who. could not save money. He has mado an immense fortune in the ring, but all he has to show for it is a hotel in Baltimore that is heavily mortgaged. Gambling, Joe says, got all of Abe Attell is another who made big money by boxing, only to lose it trying to find tlie right gee-gees. Pedlar Palmer and Billy Plimmer were als'o producers of wealth which slipped from "them. Gunner Moir, on the contrary, is comfortably fixed, and is ab.e to prowide liberally for bis old folk a dutiful trait in the champion that has won him many staunch admirers. Owen Moran has done fairly well, and. is sensible

with it, while Freddy Welsh within another year will bo wealthy beyond any dreams ho entertained a few years back. Jem Driscoll is of tho same stamp, and as lie is the highest-priced card among the light-weights in tho eastern part of America, he is coining money now, and he is credited with having the sagacity to take cax*e of it. Jack Johnson, with all his successes, has not been able to lay anything aside in the past, but no doubt now that he is a champion lio will have that pleasure.

So the story could be continued indefinitely. The modern boxer has not followed tho spendthrift tactics of his predecessors, proving that lie is a higher-calibre man. Burns, Moir, Papke, Britt, Welsh and Driscoll are of the' modern school. Ten years from now none of these, nor any of their calling, will be posing as horrible examples ; "but of tlie old school —and, m a boxing sense, some say the cleverer school —most have gone under even to the extent of depending upon former admirers for a decent funeral.