Tex Rickard and Wyatt Earp were both larger-than-life figures of the Old West, though they came from different backgrounds and made their marks in different ways.
Wyatt Earp is best known as a lawman, gambler, and gunslinger, with his most famous moment being the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona. Over his long life, Earp moved from town to town, working as a marshal, running saloons, and getting involved in mining and real estate.
Tex Rickard, on the other hand, was a cowboy-turned-promoter who became one of the most influential figures in early boxing. He built Madison Square Garden and promoted some of the biggest fights of the early 20th century, including Jack Dempsey’s title bouts.
Their connection? Rickard worked in mining towns early in his career and operated gambling halls, much like Earp. It’s believed that the two crossed paths in Nome, Alaska, around 1900, when Rickard was running a saloon and gambling house during the Klondike Gold Rush, and Earp was similarly involved in gambling and saloon keeping. Though they weren’t close associates, they were part of the same world of frontier towns, gambling, and larger-than-life hustling.
Earp’s legend was shaped by dime novels and Hollywood, while Rickard became a giant in sports promotion. Both, in their own ways, embodied the rough-and-tumble, opportunistic spirit of the American West.
Tex Rickard – Promoter
Tex Rickard (1870–1929) was an American boxing promoter, entrepreneur, and gambler who played a major role in popularizing prizefighting in the early 20th century. Born George Lewis Rickard in Kansas, he earned the nickname “Tex” due to his time in Texas as a cowboy and lawman.
Rickard made a fortune in gold mining in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush before turning to gambling and sports promotion. He gained fame by organizing high-profile boxing matches, including several heavyweight championship bouts featuring Jack Dempsey, which helped transform boxing into a mainstream sport.
Beyond boxing, Rickard was also a key figure in the development of Madison Square Garden, overseeing its construction in 1925. He also played a role in early professional hockey, founding the New York Rangers in 1926. His influence on sports promotion and venue management set the stage for modern sports entertainment.