The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-05
Referee Graney Defends HIS Re.
cent Fight Verdict.
If 1t Was to Do Over Again
Would Say the Same.
FAULT In THE CLINCH.
COrbett Was Compelled to Often
Use These Tactics.
Wants to See q Return Match
With Another Referee.
EBy Eddie Graney.I

San Francisco, April 81 realize
that it is bad form from a sportsmau's
standpoint for a referee to discuss his
decision, but there has been SO much
kicking by the people against whom
I decided the recent fight between
Britt and Corbett that 1 feel it incum-
bent on me to explain my position. If
I live for ten years or for a hundre1
nothing will convince me that I dig
not render a Just decision when 1
gave the fight to Britt
think it is generally recognized that
1 have some ability as a boxer. don't
think the people can conscientiously
say that 1 am not thoroughly familiar
with the practical side of the zing
game.
Now, so far as my honesty is con-
cerned, don't think it is necessary for
me to speak upon that point. The
people who know me and like me viii
say 1 am honest, and those who dom
like me are liable to say that am dis
honest. That is one of the results of
holding one OF the most ungra teful
positions in the sporting world-a ref
cree.
AS to punching in the clinches-that
| is the only argument that 1 have with
Young Corbett, whom 1 consider a
good fellow and a thorough sportsman.
During Corbett's first contest with
young HanlOn he never struck blow
in a clinch during the 20 rounds they
fought. In his second fight with Han
lon he had man against him who was
not aggressive, who used what is
known as the Crouch and who let
Corbett do practically all of the lead
ing.
So, when the stage of Hanlon.s
weakness arrived, Hanlon did the hold
| ing on. While he held on in the
clinches Corbett's two hands were free
and he used them to the best of his
| Il. Il n
the Marquis of Queensberry rules,
which stipulate that man with two
hands free may punch in the clinches-
During Friday nights fight Britt did
all the forcing. At times he compelled
Corbett to clinch. did not compel them
to break for the first fourteen or fifteen
rounds. After that it became practically
a wrestling match in spots, neither of
them had both hands free. Therefore, &C
fought, they could not punch in the
clinches, and when I told them to break
they would not break and the only times
I forced them to break We're when they
were wrestling or holding.
has said that I grabbed his hand from
his right side, or, rather, that IN break X
right If interfered with his right hand,
as it is claimed, I must have also in
terfered with BIRTHS left hand, which is
| Corbett said that never separated him
during the clinches of any of his other
contests That is not true In so stat
ing the little chap is very much mis-
taken. Anyone with a. memory who saw
him fight Terry AIcCSoVern knows perfect
~ well that I had to partially disrobe
in the ring in order to force the Tight
ers to break from the second to the four
teenth round.
In the fight with McGovern Corbett
was forced to cIinch just as he was with
Britt Both Britt and McGovern cut out
the pace for COrbett, so that if / dldn t
break the men in both fights the battles
would have degenerated into mere Hrest-
ling matches.
sincerely hope that Britt viii give
Corbett a return match in the near fu-
ture. He ought to give Corbett first
chance hope they will select, some good
California referee. There are quite a few
here but if they are afraid of the native
SON. 1 think it would be good idea to
import an outside referee