The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-20


name.
Where the interest will center. however.
Is In the view taken Of the matter by the
authorities. If certain definitions are laid
down. covering such matters as gloves.
length of bout and SO on. the precedent may
afect some OF the authorities in this Coun-
across the boundary
II the Canadians will come to some
definite conclusion On the matter and vii!
decide to let she game proceed as seems
likely. the regulations won't hurt boxing I'm
Canada. Far from il. 1t will really boost
the sport as putting 1t on iirmer founda-
ton.
Even in districts where there il no i'm
mediate prospect OF interference with the
game, interest is felt in Just wha; should
constitute advantage in a fight. This is
not due 10 any anxiety about what the
Canadians are likely TO do II is due to in
terest in the pending Corbett-Jeifries affair.
Two views are taken of the battle. w.
w Naughton. one Of the old-timers among
writers on pugilisni, recently expressed the
cpinon that Eddie Graney would not give
the verdict 10 Corbett. even If he lasted the
limit. merely for hitting and running
away Naughton seems 10 believe that
Ciraney Should go by the amount of damage
done.
If damage is to constitute the sole ground
on which a decision Is rendered. where does
the scientific part come In? II looks as IL
fighting is to be reduced to mere question
OF slug ging and brute force.
on the other hand, some writers believe
that the lightest taps In Il boxing game
count for as much as the heaviest blows.
They think that damage is not to be con-
sidered. but that skill with the hands alone
is to tell
Still others follow a middle ground They
point 10 the fact that Graney has seemed
to weigh skill and effectiveness in an equal
balance and has been giving the verdict
on this ground. Hanion did most pointing.
1t seems. in his fights with Young CorbeIt
and Yanger. The latter pair did the most
furnishing. Both fights were called draws.
Referees follow various lines Of judgment
in handing down decisions but, when the
whole question is summed up. it looks as If
Graney had nit the matter correctly. Both
skill and effectiveness should count II
performance in that time at Coney Island.
he should get the verdict. If Jeffries can
reach him In that time. have him shaking
and all but out at the end. Jeffries should
have the verdict even If Corbett has scored
slightly more points, counting every Fight
jab.
matter and 1t should give some line on the
way the fight is going when reports COM
mence to come in. Graney seems to count
both manners of fighting. and this appears
to be the fairest way, after all.
There is distinction between champion
ship battles and ordinary fights. and there
Is always distinction in the verdict Ref
erees. no matter how honest and unpreju-
diced they may be. have tendency to let
the champion down lightly. They probably
figure that q champion should not lose his
title unless he loses 1t decisively: On this
account battles have been called draws
where the verdict appeared to belong to the
northampton, and decisions have been CIV
en- to champions where the nonholder OF the
title would have been given draw had the
fight been an ordinary affair.
To express the matter slightly differently.
referees have q tendency to let champion
retain his title unless the other fellow bests
him most decisively. This makes figuring