UNCOMMON SIGNATURE FROM VINCE MCMAHON'S GRANDFATHER


As a boxing promoter in New York, Roderick James "Jess" McMahon Sr. strove to showcase real fighters and real fights.  He provided equal opportunity to fighters of color, and was intolerant of dodging and would not set up fights privileging race over skill, which earned him praise from the boxing community.  a February 4th 1925 article in The New York Amsterdam News declared: "Jess McMahon Continues to Offer the Best Cards While Other Managers Are Floundering Around and Asking What's It All About When They See the Big Crowds."  At the end of 1925, Jess was named official matchmaker for the new Madison Square Garden club, a notoriously stressful role, where he earned a reputation of fairness, setting up bouts resulting in interesting and well-matched fights.  

McMahon writes boxing manager Joe Doran about a potential bout featuring his client Frankie Klick: "There is very little known here about your man, and as far as a featherweight elimination tournament is concerned, there is none contemplated in Madison Sq. Garden."

Jess McMahon would become involved in the formation of the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC), the precursor of the present-day WWE, which remains in the control of the McMahon family.  

McMAHON, Jess. Typed letter signed ("Jess McMahon"), to Joe Doran. New York, NY, 14 February 1927. 1 page, on Madison Square Garden Corporation stationery, with original typed envelope.

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