The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
BOXING RULES IGNORED.
QUEESSBERRY CODE MISCONSTRUED
IN MANY INSTANCES HERE.

Absurd Happenings In Local Clubs Due ia
Ignorance of Referees and Spectators
Erroneous Ideas of what Constitutes, .
Foul-Tho English Methods Compared.
With the arrangement OF mum Der OF inter.
national boxing matches between American
and English puGilsts in view. 1t Ia not out OF
place to say that the way the Qucensborry rules
have been construed by referees and many
spectators in this country. particularly in New
York fighting clubs. may cause serious COM
plcatlons in the coming bouts unless radical
changes are inauRurated. 1t is q fact not to
be denied by any regular patron OF boxing
that nine-tenths OF the spectators who attend
the mills in local clubs do not understand the
strict meaning Of the Queensberry code. while
many seconds OF puglists and even referees
are equally as ignorant The result OF this
Ignorance is unlimited fault-nnding by speo-
tators. unnecessary roughing and fouling BY
the pugilists and poor decisions by the men
who are called upon to render them. English.
men are sticklers for tho absolute enforcement
Of the rules Of boxing. In their own clubs
they see to II that the rules are understood By
Sofers Ths, ans adhers to the
hstisns trey should Be BE- obsysd. i has been
fish referees ait outside the ring. and when
pugilst violates the rules he receives not moro
a second offence. In local clubs 1t 10 often the
the case that pugilist receives dozen warm
cation finally. because. as some referees ex-
plain Fla they want to give the public run Tor
tors. believing that the rules are being broken.
yell Foul !" referees seldom pay attention.
Several fragrant cases showing how the
Queensberry rules are isunderstood here can
be cited. On Monday might at the Coney Island
Snorting Club. the crowd received this infor-
Bonner and Kenney will box STRAIGHT
Qusensberry rules. with the agreement that il
self rec With both bands "'' ecu '.' '
to the rules there
such n8 iSctcs saty foH co0seausns
It. was impossibe Tor Kenny and Bonner to bog
bSMa,, ru sh the the Sss
a .i%ila5 ssreemsnt: IN the Isst two
with a yise-lleep Erip While oBfien with both
hands free. pounded the stomach hard and
ing according to Queensberry rules. the ref:
cree made nc move to disqualify Downey and
were present in large numbers CAV. a surpris.
ing exhibition OF ignorance by yelling foull'''
and denouncinG the referee for not ruling out
headed followers threatened the referee with
bodily harm after the light for what they
termed outrageous unfairnesR."
lisa frequent occurrence that q crowd Ii
straight, ouoensberry rules but must break
clean and protect themselves on the break.
away. Ms III ltBelI ID an dpbuTulty, LOT IL
tho men agree to break clean. why should It he
necessary to protect them Sc ves on the breaksf
r on the SF' nGsr
evitably heard, but referee who, should hap
pen e dislualiiy man for such an offence
would be acting Illegally as the Queensberry
rules provide for SUCH methods and make them
perfectly fair. To declare a foul because fair
away is in direct opposition to the mean.
Ing and spirit Of the rples ,, as they
with one hand or two. punching with one hand
hd with the apdSd he
and rsssti f1 and hittinS an epronent When
down. are clear fouls and should be severely
penaized. in most cases. too. without warm
A. F. Bettinson. the manager Of Pedlar
| Palmer. and ono OF the leading officials Of tho
humber Of lights at local clubs recently and
has expressed surprise over the way the rules
stand why boxer. nGree to meet under Queens
berry rules and then make outside agreements
feP ans Win be
governed by ihs regular code, without oondi-
t or and Vii Rffsen . 6s
rules IN accordance with their meaning;
am s!@mon: and JerTss: Dixon and aardn.T.
fought this way with satisfactory results.
i TAa'T methods are superor. 1t is therefore
| hard to understand why any other arrange
| ments should be made.
| The solid English pugilists Palmer. Jordan,
| CurIey, Wallace and others are soon TO box with
| American opponents before American specta-
tors. In the interests OF fair play II would seem
| obligatory for Americans to study the rules
| as they are written and thereby enable them.
| selves to look at the encounters with degree OF
| Intelligence that hitherto has heen lacking.
| Tho managers and match makers OF local
| clubs should also see to 1t that Queensberry
| rules without conditions Of any sort. shall gov
ern oil future contests. no matter how inn
| portant or insignificant Boxing is growing
| ranidy in popular favor. There Ia big money
| In it for ali who are directly interested fnan-
| cay and it is for them to conduct the sport
properly