Financial Fighting

That pugilism's economics are wildly unconventional is a tradition of the sport. Last week, the tradition was upheld in two prizefight deals which are likely to be long remembered as champions of their types.

Braddock v. Louis. Biggest fight of 1936 was Max Schmeling's surprising knockout of Negro Joe Louis. Biggest reward for Schmeling was a contract with Madison Square Garden to fight Heavyweight Champion James J. Braddock. Biggest drawback in the plan was the fact that Champion Braddock, faced with the necessity of risking his title for the first time since he won it two years ago, much preferred to risk it against Joe Louis, with whom he could draw a $1,000,000 gate, than against Schmeling, with whom he, might draw $200,000. Last week, in contempt of his contract with Madison Square Garden as well as of every principle of good sportsmanship, Champion Braddock signed a contract, approved by the Illinois State Athletic Commission, to defend his title against Joe Louis in Chicago's Comiskey Park on June 22. Madison Square Garden threatened it would go to court to stop the fight.

Steele v. Risko, Middleweights (145 to 160 lb.) have produced no outstanding champion since Mickey Walker retired in 1931. Last summer, after holding the championship of the class for less than a year, Middleweight Babe Risko of Syracuse, N. Y. lost it to Middleweight Freddie Steele of Tacoma, Wash. Unconvinced that Steele was the better man, Risko challenged his conqueror to a return match. This time, to get the champion into the ring, he had to guarantee Steele a $25,000 purse which he hoped to get out of the receipts.

Because Risko's excitement about fighting Steele was shared by only 11,661 boxing addicts, net receipts for the bout in Madison Square Garden last week were only $15,000, of which Risko's share was $9,000. Faced with a pecuniary loss of $16,000 for his evening's work, Risko was further disheartened when, after 15 rounds of lively boxing, the referee and two judges gave Steele the decision. Said Risko in his dressing room: "I thought I won."

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