The Million Dollar Gate.

8vo, cloth, dust jacket, illustrated, 333 pp. Brodart cover protector, DJ in very good condition, normal aging; otherwise near fine. While 'Doc' Kerns (1882-1963) was a big time boxing promoter, he was also the manager of Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker Benny Leonard and Archie Moore. Kearns was a colorful character in boxing history and possessed a realistic view of himself, "maybe I was always fast with a buck, the booze, or the broads. But I was always pretty quick with the ideas too." Kearns was known as the kind of guy who would stretch the rules a little, and sometimes a lot to protect his interests. For many years it was rumored that Kearns had sprinkled some plaster of Paris dust in Jack Dempsey' gloves in his fight with Jess Willard to ensure victory. History has not found this claim to be accurate, but it does say something about Kearns. However, while being managed by Kearns, Jack Dempsey's fight with Georges Carpentier became boxing's first million dollar gate.