DEMPSEY, JACK-GEORGES CARPENTIER SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (1921-JSA AUTHENTICATED)

HISTORY: Georges Carpentier fought Jack Dempsey for the Heavyweight Title on July 2,1921 in front of over 80,000 people at Boyle's Thirty Acres in Jersey City, New Jersey. Dempsey won the fight by stopping the smaller Carpentier in the 4th round. This was the first million dollar gate in boxing history. After signing Dempsey and Carpentier, promoter Tex Rickard borrowed $250,000 to build a 91,613-seat stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. The stadium was built in nine weeks on a piece of land known as Boyle’s Thirty Acres. Octagonal, it covered seven acres. The final row of bleachers rose 34 feet from the ground and was 312 feet from the center of the ring. Tickets were priced from $5.50 to $50. After the fight sold out, Rickard said he should have doubled the prices. This was boxing's first million dollar gate, generating $1,789,238. Dempsey was guaranteed $300,000 and Carpentier $200,000. Each man received 25% of the motion picture rights. Rickard promoted the bout as "The Fight of the Century" (the third time he used that label). He also promoted the fight as "hero" vs. "villain." The hero in this case was not the American, Jack Dempsey, but the Frenchman, Georges Carpentier, who had distinguished himself as a pilot in World War I. Dempsey, on the other hand, was cast as the villain, as he had been labeled a "slacker" for avoiding the military draft-—even though he had been found not guilty of the offense in 1920. Dempsey trained in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Jack Renault and Larry Williams were his sparring partners. Carpentier's training camp was in Manhasset, Long Island. Joe Jeannette and Paul Journee were his sparring partners. This was the first fight to be broadcast to a mass audience over the radio. The ringside commentators were Major Andrew White and J.O. Smith. The ring was 20 feet square. The fighters wore eight-ounce gloves. Carpentier, the reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion, was outweighed by 16 pounds. Dempsey was a 2 to 1 favorite. The fight started at 3:16 in the afternoon. This was the first fight sanctioned by the new National Boxing Association. The NBA would change its name to the World Boxing Association in 1962. Three months before the fight, Carpentier predicted that the fight would last more than four rounds. In the second round, Carpentier broke his right thumb in two places and suffered a slight wrist strain. Dempsey floored Carpentier twice in the fourth round. Offered here an extraordinary, signed , original Memorandum of Agreement for this historic fight. This lengthy contract was made between Dempsey, Carpentier and the promoters including Tex Rickard. It lays out the terms and conditions for the fight as well as the date, size of gloves, choice of referees and judges. The contract is witnessed and signed on the final page by Jack Dempsey, Georges Carpentier, William Brady (promoter), Charles Cochrane (promoter), Tex Rickard (promoter), Jack Kearns (Dempsey's manager) and Bernard Descamps (Carpentier's manager) and Robert Edgren who was selected to be final arbitrator. Authenticated by James Spence (JSA).

FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, 11 page, typed contract. Bold, all in ink signatures on final page. Two hole punches on left margin outside of text and signatures. Has a center crease. Covers are worn with tears. Contract itself has edge and corner wear. Clean with out staining. 8 1/2" x 11." Undoubtedly the most significant fight contract we have offered to date. Historic.