Dempsey-Tunney banned from New York initially. First fight in Philadelphia, re-match in Chicago. Promoter Tex Rickard wanted to stage Dempsey vs. Tunney at Yankee Stadium on September 16, 1923. However, on August 16, the state license committee said they would not grant Dempsey a license until he complied with the NY State Ath. Comm's order to defend against Harry Wills. On August 18, Rickard announced that Dempsey would fight Tunney in Philadelphia on September 23. This was boxing's third million dollar gate, bringing in $1,895,733. Dempsey's purse was $770,000 and Tunney's was $200,000. Dempsey was heavily favored to win. On the morning of the fight, Mike Trent, one of Dempsey's bodyguards, gave the champion a small glass of olive oil, a habit meant to aid digestion. Dempsey suffered something akin to food poisoning. Rumors spread that gamblers had paid Trent to put something in Dempsey's olive oil, but nothing was substantiated. Many believed racketeer Arnold Rothstein was behind it. Rothstein, who was ringside for the fight, bet $125,000 at 4 to 1 odds that Tunney would win. Tunney arrived to the fight in an airplane, which worried Rickard. It started to rain as the fighters entered the ring. Tunney dominated the fight and won by a 10-round unanimous decision. Tunney's win was named "Upset of the Decade" by The Ring magazine.
