The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-03-12
THE BIG FIGHT.
Referee siler Submits His Interpretation
of the Queenaberry Rules Which VIII

of she Queensberry Rules which VIII
/ Govern the Great Glove Contest.
/ CARSON CITY, New, March 1.-THE
most delicate subject in connection
with the big fight was preached We'd
nesday when Referee George Siler
submitted to Corbett and Fitzsimmons
his Interpretation of the Queensberry
rules. Siler's communication, which
was in the nature of formal letter,
was not received with manifesto tions
of joy at either camp.
Rule Ito be fair, stand-up box
ing match in 24-foot ring, or as near
that as practicable.
Rule 2-No wrestling or hugging al
lowed
Rule 3-The rounds to be of three
minutes duration and one minute time
between rounds.
Rule Aft either man fall, through
weakness or otherwise, he must get up
unassisted, ten seconds to be allowed
] him to do So the other man mean
while to return to his corner, and
/ when the fallen man is on his legs, the
| round to be resumed and continued
until the three minutes have expired.
If one man fails, to come to the scratch
in the ten seconds allowed, it shall be
In the power of the referee to give his
award in favor of the other man
Rule 5-A man hanging on the
ropes in a helpless state with his toes
off the ground. shall be considered
| down.
Rule 6-No seconds or any other
person to be allowed in the ring dur
ing the rounds.
'Rule 7-Should the contest be stop
ped by any unavoidable interference
the referee to name time and place, as
soon as possible, for finishing the con-
test, so that the match must be won or
lost, unless the hackers of both men
| agree to draw the stakes.
"Rule S-The gloves to be fair sized
boxing gloves of the best quality and
new.
'Rule 9-Should glove burst or
come off, it must be replaced to the
| referees satisfaction.
Rule 10.-A man on one knee is
considered down, and if struck is en-
titled to the stakes.
Rule 11-No shoes or boots with
springs allowed.
Rule 12-The contest in all other
respects to be governed by the revised
rules of the London prize ring.
THE first three rules need no com
ment, as they are plain, simple and
understood by almost every body.
"Rule 4, however, requires some
analysis, as some of the points are
often misconstrued
''The rule says: If either man fall
through weakness or otherwise, he
must get up unassisted, three seconds
to be allowed him to do so, the other
man meanwhile to return to his cor
ner.
''This, of course, was intended to pre-
vent a man from standing over his
fallen opponent. 1t probably never
occurred to the Trainer of the rules
that at times man either falls or is
knocked down in his opponents cor
ner. If then, the man on his feet re-
tires to his corner as the rules direct,
he will be standing over his fallen OPP
ponent and doing just what the rules
mean he shall not do
ITO avoid all disputes on this score,
will simply instruct you in case of
knock-down to retire at least ten feet
from your fallen opponent, to give
him an opportunity to rise.
Rule II, which says: The contest
in all other respects to be governed by
the revised rules of the London prize
ring, is, | consider. one OF the most i'm
portant of the II rules, and appears
to be the bone of contention in almost
every contest. 1t has been the custom
OF referees, myself among them, to in
quire of the principals whether they
choose to hit in clinches with one arm
free and also on breakaways. Invari-
ably the principals agree not to hit in
clinches, or on breakaways but they
generally forget all about their agree
ment and frequently violate it.
Neither of you, am sure, desire to
win the coming contest on technical
foul and to avoid any such contin-
gency through hitting in clinches with
free arm and in breakaways, / will
rule:
THAT you be permitted to hit in
clinches with one arm free and also on
breakaways. With this Interpretation
of this rule announced a week before
the contest. you will both have ample
time to practice these important points,
and will have no cause for complaint
should either of you be caught off your
guard.
Pivot blows, missing with either
hand and whipping back with the
elbow, meeting an opponent with or
deliberately striking him with the
elbow or knees, are barred and will
be considered foul. Should any of the
above blows have any material effect
on the result of the contest l shall use
my judgement accordingly. Should
any of the seconds of either principal
enter the ring during a round to
render any assistance to the fighters
or prevent them from committing
foul or to throw water OF them, it
shall be deemed foul.
Trivial fouls may be unintention
ally committed by either of you, which,
unless they have a direct bearing on