I found this information and wanted to see what else can be added here. I know as champion Johnson’s going rate to defend his title was $30,000. Several proposed bouts vs Langford fell through due to the inability of promoters to obtain financing. One other fell through when Johnson fled to Europe. Was the following one of the instances when Johnson did not obtain his $30,000 purse (although he agreed to less as the negotiations occurred prior to his becoming champion) and because of this would not agree to the bout? As follows:
The financial reasons Johnson may have stated are also incorrect because, every time he made a demand of money to defend against Langford either a promoter like Hugh McIntosh or, when it came to side bets, Langford (and backers) himself stepped forward with the money.
That's a long story with many, many different examples, so starting from the beginning when Johnson started ducking him, let's look at their initial agreement to face each other in a rematch scheduled for May 24th, 1909 (as stated earlier in the thread, Johnson agreed to the match in return for loan by the NSC that was reported to be $6,000), and here's an actual written statement from Johnson to the National Sporting Club in London that was signed on Sept 19th, 1908, and printed in a number of different sources back then;
"To the committee of the National Sporting Club.
Gentlemen: I undertake and agree to carry out my contest with Sam Langford on the 22d of February, 1909, on the same terms and conditions as already arranged with Langford, viz. 1,000 pound purse and one-third of the interest in any bioscopic pictures that may be taken. At the same time allow me to tender my thanks to you for the courtesy you have extended to myself and manager, Mr. Sam Fitzpatrick, while we have been in this country. I am, gentlemen, yours faithfully.
Jack Johnson"
Johnson asked for and was granted an extension on that agreement by the NSC, and then a few months later;
"JOHNSON ACCEPTS OFFER
Agrees to Fight Sam Langford Before London Club on Derby Day
London, Feb. 5--Jack Johnson, the heavyweight champion, tonight notified the National Sporting Club that he has accepted their offer of a $6,000 purse for a match of twenty rounds with Sam Langford. The fight will take place during Derby week and the purse will be divided, $4,000 to the winner and $2,000 to the loser. Each man is to recieve $750 to cover travelling and training expenses." - Various sources printed between Feb 6th and Feb 8th, with this one taken from the Feb 8th, 1909, Salt Lake Herald
From that point on their were NUMEROUS newspaper sources from back then stating that Johnson and Langford were going to meet in London on May 24th, including more quotes from Johnson himself when he wrote a letter to a sportswriter by a W.H. Moseley as printed in sources dated Feb 22nd, 1909;
"As to your suggestion that I don't fight fight Langford in the event I whipped Burns, I will say that I am open to all comers and would not call myself the champion if I cannot defend the title. I gave my word to my English friends to fight Langford, win or lose with Burns, and I shall do so. I know Sam has whipped some good men in America lately and that I am going up against warm proposition, but you will remember I bested him in our fifteen-round fight, and while he has improved a great deal from his recent fights, I have learned a thing or two myself. I do think, however, that Sam is the best today in the game outside of myself; but when we fight get a big bunch on me, for 'I'll deliver the goods'.
Jack Johnson, Champion of the World, of Galveston, Texas, U.S.A."
Johnson signs the agreement to face Langford in London, publicly states that he has agreed to the fight in many sources, and then pulls out of the fight around Mar 18th, of 1909, gets himself called a "coward" and "yellow" by the press (some papers, such as the Times Dispatch, Apr 18th, report that Johnson was "hot under the collar" and whatnot over being called such things, but still stuck to his backing out of the fight, as well as getting called out by the manager (a Mr. Bettinson) of the NSC for failing to honour the agreement, and then publicly admits on Apr 19that "he broke his word" after stating that he "had promised to fight Langford at London (both quotes taken from Washington Times, Apr 19th, 1909)
The financial reasons Johnson may have stated are also incorrect because, every time he made a demand of money to defend against Langford either a promoter like Hugh McIntosh or, when it came to side bets, Langford (and backers) himself stepped forward with the money.
That's a long story with many, many different examples, so starting from the beginning when Johnson started ducking him, let's look at their initial agreement to face each other in a rematch scheduled for May 24th, 1909 (as stated earlier in the thread, Johnson agreed to the match in return for loan by the NSC that was reported to be $6,000), and here's an actual written statement from Johnson to the National Sporting Club in London that was signed on Sept 19th, 1908, and printed in a number of different sources back then;
"To the committee of the National Sporting Club.
Gentlemen: I undertake and agree to carry out my contest with Sam Langford on the 22d of February, 1909, on the same terms and conditions as already arranged with Langford, viz. 1,000 pound purse and one-third of the interest in any bioscopic pictures that may be taken. At the same time allow me to tender my thanks to you for the courtesy you have extended to myself and manager, Mr. Sam Fitzpatrick, while we have been in this country. I am, gentlemen, yours faithfully.
Jack Johnson"
Johnson asked for and was granted an extension on that agreement by the NSC, and then a few months later;
"JOHNSON ACCEPTS OFFER
Agrees to Fight Sam Langford Before London Club on Derby Day
London, Feb. 5--Jack Johnson, the heavyweight champion, tonight notified the National Sporting Club that he has accepted their offer of a $6,000 purse for a match of twenty rounds with Sam Langford. The fight will take place during Derby week and the purse will be divided, $4,000 to the winner and $2,000 to the loser. Each man is to recieve $750 to cover travelling and training expenses." - Various sources printed between Feb 6th and Feb 8th, with this one taken from the Feb 8th, 1909, Salt Lake Herald
From that point on their were NUMEROUS newspaper sources from back then stating that Johnson and Langford were going to meet in London on May 24th, including more quotes from Johnson himself when he wrote a letter to a sportswriter by a W.H. Moseley as printed in sources dated Feb 22nd, 1909;
"As to your suggestion that I don't fight fight Langford in the event I whipped Burns, I will say that I am open to all comers and would not call myself the champion if I cannot defend the title. I gave my word to my English friends to fight Langford, win or lose with Burns, and I shall do so. I know Sam has whipped some good men in America lately and that I am going up against warm proposition, but you will remember I bested him in our fifteen-round fight, and while he has improved a great deal from his recent fights, I have learned a thing or two myself. I do think, however, that Sam is the best today in the game outside of myself; but when we fight get a big bunch on me, for 'I'll deliver the goods'.
Jack Johnson, Champion of the World, of Galveston, Texas, U.S.A."
Johnson signs the agreement to face Langford in London, publicly states that he has agreed to the fight in many sources, and then pulls out of the fight around Mar 18th, of 1909, gets himself called a "coward" and "yellow" by the press (some papers, such as the Times Dispatch, Apr 18th, report that Johnson was "hot under the collar" and whatnot over being called such things, but still stuck to his backing out of the fight, as well as getting called out by the manager (a Mr. Bettinson) of the NSC for failing to honour the agreement, and then publicly admits on Apr 19that "he broke his word" after stating that he "had promised to fight Langford at London (both quotes taken from Washington Times, Apr 19th, 1909)
Dr. Z
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