ישן טשאַמפּ דיעס פּענילאַס
אויף נאוועמבער 30, 1910, ריפּאָרץ געקומען פון ענגלאַנד אַז פרייַערדיק וועלט כעוויווייט פּריזעפיגהטינג טשאַמפּיאָן דזשעם מאַסע האט געשטארבן אין 79 יאָרן פון עלטער. מאַסע איז וועלט מייַסטער פון 1860 צו 1862 און ווידער פון 1866 צו 1876. נאָך ריפּאָרטאַדלי ערנינג אַ מיליאָן דאָללאַרס אין אַ קאַריערע וואָס ספּאַנד 1857 צו 1909, Jem Mace died penniless. He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave. How did this happen?
Jem Mace from the Public Domain
Like many combat sports athletes before and since, Jem Mace had poor impulse control and poor money management skills. Mace’s taste for the “sporting life” of wine, women and song would cost him dearly.
The first factor in Mace’s loss of finances was his love of women. Mace reportedly had 14 children with 5 women. Mace married three times but didn’t bother getting divorces making him a bigamist. As champion, Mace also carried on a number of affairs with high profile women.
While formalize child support was not developed to the level it is today, Mace would be forced to make some provisions for these women and children to keep him out of jail and the newspapers. Mace’s inability to manage his personal life would take a big chuck of his fortune.
Mace also spent much of his time in his later career working in circus exhibitions. Mace would partially own an English circus for a time. Mace also took part in professional wrestling exhibitions in addition to boxing exhibitions.
Mace’s continued involvement in the circus and professional wrestling attest to his need for money. Experts considered Mace one of the most scientific boxers of all time who taught many young boxers. If Mace managed his money well, he could have retired and moved into professional training. אָבער, he had to stay on the road giving exhibitions to earn enough money to keep going.
A Young Jem Mace for the Public Domain
After Mace could no longer give boxing exhibitions (which he gave until he was 78!), Mace applied for an English pension in 1910. די דעצעמבער 10, 1910 אויסגאבע פון די Honolulu Evening Bulletin stated that Mace tired of the pension board’s questions and withdrew his application. Mace died a few months later.
Mace’s story is the rule in combat sports, while William Muldoon’s story was the exception. Too many combat sports athletes die penniless than retain or build their fortunes.
Why do you think this phenomena exists? You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my פאַסעבאָאָק בלאַט, טוויטטער פּראָפיל און Google page.
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