The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-28
.SlERR 0N Fight RULES
Says the Majority of Rounds"
Idea Is a Fraud.
REFEREE HAS A BAD JOB
At Best, and RuIe-Twisting
Makes It Worse.
REFEREE HAS A BAD JOB

Chicago, Nov. N.-George sner writes
in the Tribune: The next championship
battle of Importance will be between
Frank Erne of Buffalo, n. Y, the pres
ent lightweight champion. and Jack
OBrien of New York City. The boys
will contest twenty-five rounds for a
purse of 5000, and will settle the ques-
ton of supremacy in the lightweiht
division, under the auspices of the Coney
Island Sporting Club, on Monday, Dec.
4 Have been selected as referee.
Both boys, I learn, are working hard
and faithfully for the mill, and a pres
ent, although the date is still a week off
they are reported as being in fine fettle.
Although there is not much interest
taken in the battle inthis section of the
country, it is all the talk in the east.
This is the second time these boys have
been matched. The first, which was TO
have taken place on Oct. %, was called
off owing to the illness of Erne. The bet
ting at that time. or rather in the first
match was 100 to 20 Erne, and there
were thousands of dollars Wagered at
those figures. The betting at present
still favors the champion. but, not being
on the ground, 1 have no idea as to the
amounts being wagered.
In the first match the heavy bettors all
favored Erne, despite the fact that re-
ports from O'Brien's training quarters
had the latter putting it all over clever
Young Mahoney.
The articles for the Oct. % fight called
for straigh Queensberry rules, but in the
coming contest Jack Dougherty,
O'Briens manager, has inserted a clause
in the articles demanding the man hay
ing the better of a majority of the rounds
to be declared the winner should both
men be on their feet at the end That
may look we'll on paper, and may appear
all right to the ordinary fight follower.
1t, however, is bad from a referees point
of view and has tendency to place that
official, whoever he may be, in a rather
ticklish position.
For the sake OF argument we will say
that one man has a slight shade the bet
ter of the milling at the end of each of
the first thirteen rounds, and during the
next twelve rounds he does not score a
clean hit, and the other man outpoints
him ten to one. Furthermore, knocks
him down as fast as he can get up, and
to add to it has him all but out time
without number. Would it be fair to
declare the man having slight margin
the better of the odd round the winner?
Would the man, despite the clause in the
articles. who, having scored everything
but "a knockout in twelve rounds. be sat
isfed to be judged a loser? Would the
betting public, the spectators. or anybody
else. excepting, of course, the winner
consider it a just decision? Would the
referee, irrespective of the articles, think
he decided the contest to the better man?
TIL clause in the articles is a bad one |
and I viii not referee the fight unless it |
is changed.
The position of a referee is a thankless |
and dangerous one at the best with plain |
everyday rules, so why make them
worse?
The fighting game for referees, like |
base ball for umpires. is becoming more |
and more unsatisfactory ev-
cry day. A few weeks ago, Johnny |
White. official referee for the Broadway |
cub, got slugged for declaring Jack |
Hamilton a winner over Oscar Gardner. |
I saw the fight. and will say now, as I I
did then. that the decision was just; still !
Paddy Sullivan. Gardeners manager
big better. good loser, and. withal, |
royal good felow-thought differently, |
and did the smuggling.
Clarence White. referee Of the Lenox
club, was also assaulted by Manager
Tom O'Rourke and others. and It is not
known that one of Sharkey's
admirers. or somebody that had lost a
bet, threw a bottle at me, which struck
me on the foot. just before leaving the
ring in the late big fight.
Sam Austin who declared Frank Erne
a winner over Georger Dixon. will never
referee again owing to the abuse he re-
ceived after the fight.
A New York publication has been feel
ing the pulse of the sporting public. and
fight followers in particular. with refer
ence to whether there ought to be a
change made in refereeing contests. and
If SO, how The question as to whether
referees could not keep tab on all blows
with a dial or have some meth
Oh TO announse the winner at the end of
each round, etc.
This brought opinions from large
number of experts and sporting men. al
OF whom. or a major portion Of whom,
argued that the old and present systems
Of refereeing fights was the best.
It was undoubtedly the object Of the
publication TO find some method Of ref
erecting that would do away with the
abuse continually heaqed upon the heads
Of referees, TO make their duties easier if
possible and to satisfy fight followers.
promoters. and managers in particular.
In this however. they failed, 50 I pre-
sumo we, the referees. VIII be compelled
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