“GET RICH QUICK.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20584, 6 December 1928, Page 13

“GET RICH QUICK.”

WRESTLERS AND BOXERS. EAKNINOS IN AUSTRALIA. 'Thom Opr Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY; November 20. . Some remarkable details have" been given .of the earnings-in Australia of wrestlers and boxers who have fought their battles at the stadiums of -Sydney and Melbourne. During the hearing "of a libel action brought against Victorian Newspapers, Ltd,, by the Greek, wrestler, John D. .Kilonis, Kilonis admitted' that his earnings for the two seasons lie had _ appeared " before . the Australian public amounted to £5834. Astonishing as those figures are they pale into insignificance compared with the income for, a corresponding period of Ted Thye, known as the i“ Big Boss among the wrestling, fraternity. From June to November, 1927, Thye’s percentage of the gate money ho assisted to draw was slightly.more than £6OOO, and during the season just ended his banking account had been swelled by. the addition of £4OOO in percentages.. These figures give a good idea of the popularity of wrestling in Australia,. and explain the lengths to which ..the wrestlers will-go to attract the, crowds. They are pre-pared-to do anything but wrestle, and some of them stoop to the chewing of an opponent’s ear.

An old rival of Kilouis, “A 1 Karasick,” received £2OOO in each of three seasons. Hugh Nicols, who nevej Tailed to act as a magnet to draw, the .crowds through the doors of the stadiums, enriched himself in one season by £2OOO, and Clarence Eklund received a similar amount. A, Santel- joined the hand of wrestlers only this season, and his dis-plays-brought him in £2Boo.Lesser lights in-Bob Kruse and Bullet Mvers each got approximately £llOO. Myers got- something else besides money. He was 1 one of those unfortunates whose ear was bitten, and the ear is now several times its normal size and is likely to remain so. Tlie popular Walter Miller showed a handsome profit on his first two visits, but in his last battle was so injured that he will not be able to enter the ring 'again?’ ' It is recalled-that even in its palmiest days boxing was never so benevolent to its disciples. However, certain fighters have earned big money, but rarely in quick time as the wrestlers. Stadiums, Ltd.,, paid the negro heavyweight, “Tiger” Payne, £BOOO in three years, but as the result of his fondness for the; racecourse and other forms of gambling, he was sent back to: America practically penniless. His countryman. Sunny ’ Jim Williams, was even more successful, and earned £SOOO in a little o'er 12 months. Another coloured fighter, Jamito, stayed’four years for £15,000. Other importations in recent years to earn good money were Eugene Criqui, £3500 for five 1 fights; Joss Symonds, £4500 in 12 months; Len Johnson, £3500 in a few months; and George Engel, £SOOO in two visits.