Who got the first $1 million purse?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by jaffay, Jul 7, 2009.


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  1. jaffay

    jaffay New Orleans Hornets Full Member

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    I heard at least three versions from my friends:

    Gene Tunney for Dempsey rematch
    Floyd Patterson against Liston
    Sonny Liston against Patterson

    any informations? I heard in that Kevin Rooney interview posted not so long ago on classic board that the first one was Floyd, any other sources or news?
     
    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    #1
  2. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    It was Patterson but I cant remember which fight it was. Gene Tunney got the first million dollar check but his purse was less than one million so he gave Rickard the difference so Rickard could write the check for 1 mil.
     
    klompton, Jul 7, 2009
    klompton, Jul 7, 2009
    #2
  3. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    If it was one of Tunney's bouts then surely it must have been either Dempsey fight?
     
    ChrisPontius, Jul 7, 2009
    ChrisPontius, Jul 7, 2009
    #3
  4. lefthook31

    lefthook31 Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Patterson was the first million dollar purse according to Rooney.
     
    lefthook31, Jul 7, 2009
    lefthook31, Jul 7, 2009
    #4
  5. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Your right about Tunney, he actually made $990,445 for the 2nd Dempsey bout, BUT he wrote out a check for $9,555 so Richard would give him $1 Million.

    1st Million Dollar purse- Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson (in 1963). Both made $1,434,000.
     
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    #5
  6. jaffay

    jaffay New Orleans Hornets Full Member

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    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    #6
  7. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yes he did, I believe his son had it at his house for years.
     
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    #7
  8. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Rooney is wrong..the correct answer is "Gene Tunney".
     
    red cobra, Jul 7, 2009
    red cobra, Jul 7, 2009
    #8
  9. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tunney actually made $990,445 for the 2nd Dempsey bout, BUT he wrote out a check for $9,555 so Richard would give him $1 Million. So officially he did not earn $1 Million.

    1st Million Dollar purse- Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson (in 1963). Both made $1,434,000.
     
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    #9
  10. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Does anyone know what Louis made for the Schmeling rematch? I'm surprised it took until the 60's to exceed Tunney's purse for Dempsey's rematch. Louis-Schmeling II was HUGE.
     
    ChrisPontius, Jul 7, 2009
    ChrisPontius, Jul 7, 2009
    #10
  11. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Louis made $349,228 and Max made $175,622.
     
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    #11
  12. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I'd go with the Tunney story. I remember reading about 10 years ago that that purse was equivalent to 48 million by todays economy(10 years ago).That's without ppv.
     
    AlFrancis, Jul 7, 2009
    AlFrancis, Jul 7, 2009
    #12
  13. jaffay

    jaffay New Orleans Hornets Full Member

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    damn

    some purses from history:

    Laurent Bouduani 300,000 v Guillermo Jones 40,000
    Tim Austin 40,000 vs. Andrian Kaspari 10,000
    Hugo Soto 20,000 v. Jose Bonilla 30,000
    Montell Griffin 187,000 v James Toney 400,000



    Chris Byrd $300- 425.000 v DaVarryl Williamson ?
    Chris Byrd $2.15 Million v Evander Holyfield ?
    Chris Byrd $625.000 v Andrew Golota ?
    John Ruiz $11 Million v Roy Jones Jr $25-26 Million
    John Ruiz $1.1 Million v Evander Holyfield ? [1st fight]
    John Ruiz $1 Million v Evander Holyfield ?[2nd Fight]
    John Ruiz $450.000 v Fres Oquendo ?
    John Ruiz $1.5 Million v Kirk Johnson 1.1 mil
    Wladimir Klitschko $300.000 v DaVarryl Williamson $90.000
    Wladimir Klitschko $531.000 v Lamon Brewster $225.000
    Lamon Brewster $450.000 v Kali Meehan $70.000
    Lamon Brewster $750.000 v Andrew Golota ?
    Vitali Klitschko $3.2 Million v Danny Williams $300.000
    Corrie Sanders $952.000 v Vitali Klitschko ?
    Jameel McCline $400.000 v Lance Whitaker ?
    Danny Williams $250.000 v Mike Tyson ?
    Julius Francis $560.000 v Mike Tyson ?
    Lennox Lewis $34 Million v Mike Tyson ?
    Mike Tyson $35 Million v Bruce Seldon $5 Million
    Mike Tyson $8.7-10 Million v Orlin Norris $800.000
    Mike Tyson $30 Million v Evander Holyfield $33 Million [2nd fight]
    Oliver McCall $3.07 Million v Lennox Lewis? [2nd fight]
    Michael Grant $4 Million v Lennox Lewis ?
    Orlin Norris $50.000 v Henry Akinwande ?

    Thomas Hearns $3.87 Million v Virgill Hill ?
    Bobby Cyz $150.000 v Robert Daniels 185,000
    Roy Jones jr $6.375 Million v Antonio Tarver $2.075 Million[2nd fight]
    Antonio Tarver $2.25 Million v Glen Johnson $1-1.5 Million [1st fight]
    Glen Johnson $5000 v Eric Harding ?
    Glen Johnson $700.000 v Roy Jones Jr ?
    Glen Johnson $50.000 v Clinton Woods ? [2nd fight]

    Scott Pemberton $150.000 v Jeff Lacy ?
    Jeff Lacy $50.000 v Syd Vanderpool $70.000
    Jeff Lacy $157.000 v Omar Sheika $35.000
    Jeff Lacy $200.000 v Rubin Williams $35.000

    Felix Trinidad$ 10 Million v Ricardo Mayorga $2.5 Million
    Felix Trinidad $10 Million v Winky Wright $4 Million
    Oscar De La Hoya $11 Million v Yori Boy Campas $1 Million
    Oscar De La Hoya $30+ Million v Bernard Hopkins $10-15 Million
    Oscar De La Hoya $12 Million v Shane Mosley $4.25 Million[2nd fight]
    Winky Wright $750.000 v Shane Mosley ? [1st fight]
    Winky Wright $1.6 - 2 Million v Shane Mosley $1.9 - 2 Million [2nd fight]
    Winky Wright $1.9 million v Sam Soliman ?
    Shane Mosley $4.5 Million v Oscar De La Hoya ? [1st fight]
    Jermain Taylor $25.000 v Undra White ?
    Bernard Hopkins $3.8 Million v Howard Eastman $800.000
    Bernard Hopkins $1.25 Million v Morrade Haakar ?
    Bernard Hopkins $1.125 Million v Robert Allen [3rd fight]
    Bernard Hopkins $100.000 v Antwun Echols ? [1st fight]
    Bernard Hopkins $525.000 v Syd Vanderpool ?
    Bernard Hopkins $1 Million v Keith Holmes ?
    Bernard Hopkins $2.75 Million v Felix Trinidad ?
    Sugar Ray Leonard $11 Million v Marvin Hagler $12 Million
    Sugar Ray Leonard $11 Million v Thomas Hearns ? [1st fight]
    Sugar Ray Leonard $8.5-10 Million v Roberto Duran ? [1st fight]
    Sugar Ray Leonard $40.000 v Luis Vega $650

    Mike McCallum $450.000 v James Toney $400.000 [1st fight]
    Gerald McClennan $250.000 v Nigel Benn ?
    Javier Castillejo $1 Million v Fernando Vargas ?
    Verno Phillips $135.000 v Kasim Ouma $40.000

    Cory Spinks $800.00 v Zab Judah $100.000 [1st fight]
    Cory Spinks $1.2 + Million v Zab Judah $100.000 [2nd fight]
    Zab Judah $1 Million v Kostya Tszyu ?
    Zab Judah $400.000 + v Rafael Pineda $45.000
    Jesse James Leija $450.000 v Kostya Tszyu ?
    Kostya Tszyu $800.000 v Sharmba Mitchell $900.000 [1st fight]
    Floyd Mayweather $3 Million v De Marcus Corley $150.000
    Floyd Mayweather $3.2 Million v Arturo Gatti $3.5 Million
    Floyd Mayweather $1.5 + Million v Diego Corrales $1.25 million
    Floyd Mayweather $150.000 v Genaro Hernandez $600.000
    Antonio Margarito $72.000 v Antonio Diaz $46.700
    Arturo Gatti $1.75 million v Leonardo Dorin $500.000
    Leavander Johnson $150.000 v Jesus Chavez ?
    Joel Casamayor $900.000 v Acelino Freitas $400.000
    Joel Casamayor $250.000 v Roberto Garcia ?
    Jose Luis Castillo $300.000 v Diego Corrales ? [1st fight]
    Jose Luis Castillo $1.2 Million v Diego Corrales $2 Million [2nd fight]
    Jose Luis Castillo $250.000 v Julio Diaz $400.000
    Jose Luis Castillo $75.000 v Juan Lazcano $200.000
    Cesar Bazan $10.000 v Miguel Angel Cotto ?
    Miguel Angel Cotto $275.000 v Randall Baily $75.000
    Miguel Angel Cotto $200.000 v Lovermore Ndou $42.500
    Miguel Angel Cotto $ 420.000 v Victoriano Sosa $50.00
    Carlos Hernandez $41.000 v David Santos $35.000
    Julio Cesar chavez $900.000 v Larry Laucoursiere $20.000
    Julio Cesar Chavez 1.2 Mil. Vs. Meldrick Taylor 1.2 mil
    Julio Ceasr Chavez 1.25 mil vs Kotya Tzyu 1.25 mil
    Oscar De La Hoya: $460,000.00 vs. Carl Griffith: $30,000
    Erik Morales $1 Million v Jesus Chavez $600.000
    Erik Morales $1 Million v Carlos Hernandez $650.000
    Erik Morales $2.25 Million v Marco Antonio Barrera $2.25 Million [3rd fight]
    Manny Pacquiao $180.000 v Emmanuel Lucero ?
    Juan Manuel Marquez $500.000 v Manny Pacquiao $650.000
    Juan Manuel Marquez $50.000 v Manuel Medina $125.000
    Marcos Linica $85.000 v Juan Manuel Marquez ?
    Wilfredo Vasquez $500.000 v Naseem Hamed ?
    Salvador Sanchez $1 Million v Wilfredo Gomez $1 Million
    Paulie Ayala $60.000 v Johnny Tapia ? [1st fight]
    Jorge Arce $50.000 v Hussein Hussein $25.000
    Evander Holyfield 500.000 vs. Jeremy Bates 20,000
    Ali Frazier 1 2.5 mil each
    Johnathon Nelson 6,000 vs. J.C. Chavez Jr ?
    Chauncey Welliver 4,000 vs. Chad Von Sickle [according to Welliver himelf]
    Dewey Welliver 10,000 vs Yuri Boy Campas
    Terry Norris 1,000,000 vs. Sugar Ray Leonard ?
     
    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    jaffay, Jul 7, 2009
    #13
  14. hhascup

    hhascup Boxing Addict Full Member

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    That's right BUT officially Tunney made $990,445
     
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    hhascup, Jul 7, 2009
    #14
  15. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's true.
     
    AlFrancis, Jul 7, 2009
    AlFrancis, Jul 7, 2009
    #15
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