Big Match Falls Through
In March 1893, newspapers across the country carried the story of a proposed match between current world light heavyweight boxing champion Jack McAuliffe and Saint Louis boxing instructor Mike Mooney. Although the match would seem odd because Mooney was such a lightly regarded challenger, the lure of $2500 a side is probably what brought the champion to the table.
Adjusted for inflation, $2500 is worth $74,776.39 in 2021 money. it’s unlikely any fighter in that era would have turned down that kind of money no matter who the challenger was. From McAuliffe’s perspective, it was a great opportunity. It was highly unlikely that Mooney could beat him for his championship. McAuliffe stood to make one of the bigger paydays of his career.
19th Century St. Louis boxing instructor and professional wrestler Mike Mooney (Public Domain)
They agreed to meet in a bout to be held in Saint Louis about 8 weeks from the announcement on March 3rd 1893. However, during those 8 weeks, the bout fell through.
I can’t find any sources that says exactly why the bout fell through. There is no record of the match in any newspaper of that era. Jack McAuliffe’s official record also lacks a recorded bout with Mike Mooney.
The bout could have been called off because of an injury. However, at the time the bout was supposed to occur, McAuliffe was doing his own stage tour show in Kansas City, Missouri. The final show was going to be in Saint Louis. None of the newspaper articles covering this show discuss a McAuliffe injury.
Jack McAuliffe from the Public Domain
Mooney does not show up in any Saint Louis newspapers having been injured either. Mooney was involved in a wrestling match in December 1893. He was also issuing challenges for Greco-Roman bouts to other wrestlers during the summer. An injury cancellation seems unlikely.
The most likely reason for the bout being called off was the money each side needed to come up with for the bout. $2,500 was an exorbitant sum in 1893. McAuliffe nor Mooney would have the money themselves. They would need to raise it through backers, supporters, investors and gamblers.
While the idea may have seemed appealing at first, the Mooney backers would be taking on a great deal more risk. It was a strong possibility McAuliffe would win costing Mooney’s backers a small fortune. As the bout got closer, Mooney’s backers may have been harder to find. One party not coming up with the $2,500 is the most likely reason for the bout cancellation.
McAuliffe was at the end of his career. He would retire in another year or so. Mooney continued as both a wrestler and boxing instructor in Saint Louis. Mooney would supplement his earnings as an instructor by taking the occasional wrestling match or boxing bout. We will look at one of his wrestling matches next week.
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Sources: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 3, 1893 edition, p.5, numerous papers at newspapers.com and the Missouri Death Certificate database.
