THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID IN PART:

February 07, 1955

"The promoter's receipts [from TV and similar sales] represent on the average over 25% of the promoter's total revenue and in some instances exceed the revenue derived from the sale of admission tickets. The complaint alleges that the defendants have restrained and monopolized this...through a conspiracy to exclude competition.... The conspiracy, it is claimed, began in 1949 with an agreement [that] Joe Louis...would resign his title[and] procure exclusive rights to the services of the four leading title contenders...that he would also obtain exclusive rights to broadcast, televise and film these contests, and that he would assign all such exclusive rights to the defendants. The defendants have allegedly sought to maintain...this conspiracy...by eliminating the 'leading competing promoter' of championship matches; by acquiring the exclusive rights to promote [in] all the 'principal arenas'...and by requiring each title contender to agree...that if he wins he would...take part only in title contests promoted by the defendants. As a consequence of these acts...the defendants have promoted...all but two of the 21 championship matches held...between June, 1949 and the filing of the complaint in March, 1952."