The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-26
TIMELY ROXING TALK.
Somc OF the Evils ~ Holding Fights 10
Finish In Private.


Nearly every night. including Sunday
lights to a finish in private are held In this
city These are not OF much importance.
except TO the promoters and the friends OF
the rival scrappers who. az a rule. make up
the major portion OF the attendance. The
pugilists who figure in these encounters are
boxers OF the low type. invariably unframed
and unscientinc men. They indulge in these
encounters because they want to set their
names In the newspa pers. or else 10 keep the
wolf from the door. The good and clever
fighter does not need 10 worry now about
making living with the gloves. thanks
10 the various clubs In the different cities
where he can display his knowledge OF the
manly art in public. Although the com
pensation is not so great as II was four OF
Ave years ago 1t is enough TO keep him from
want And. then. another thing IL serves 70
condition him and give him experience. pro-
vidine he is Just budding as fighter.
Strange to say very few fatalities ha We
occurred in these private" nghts The
other day lighter was KILLED in Pennsylvania.
II was proved in this mill that the victim
had not taken any pains about his condition
and was in no shape TO box even an exhIbi-
ton bout Most OF the clubs where hghtin e
s held see that the contestants are examined
bv physician before they are allowed to
nut up their hands. The principals know
who is in m health or who has neglected his
training II such is the case the delinquent
fighter is sure Of being rejected. or at least
he ought TO. Such proceeding means a
loss of money to the careless pu gillst. and
rather than take any chances he goes 70
work and trains faithfully.
II Is deterrent with the private hrg!seTs.
They 20 into the ring without the necessary
preparation Sometimes these mills are hon
,tttt in, fpr Of
fakes There ia usually an understandin e
betyceon the rivals az 10 who shsll win. II
p,akcs no difference because often the loser
receives as much for his services as does
the winner The loser unless he Is ambitious
10 make his mark as boxer. does not care
how the trick is done He will quit. felTn
a Knockout or lose on foul There is not
much danger OF his reputation, such as he
/ may possess suffering, These mills are
! often stopped by false OF real cry OF police.
or else s some nerye6e Do sTen' tho
II man loses in private essay his re-
! verse Is FORGOTTEN inside OF a week, and II y
/ is remembered there is nothing TO prevent
/ tho defeated man from boobine up in another
! part OF tho town under an assumed name
/ and going through the proceed ng asai n:
| the promoters of private lights are either
! saloon keepers or those partial 20 their inter
ests When secret combat Ia arranged
! tho sports are asked us = rule TO meet in some
/ harroom where they are assured that the
Tin" will be their property II they are able
/ to pass muster and convince those ~ charge
I that they are all right. This procedure does
NOT entail much trouble 10 the promoter
An that he has to do Is 70 dispose Of he Tickets.
/ which may cost anything from 81 10 sIo.
/ according 20 the popularity OF the contest
ants Tho promoter takes a friend In his
! confidence gives him the tip, which in turn
! is gwen 10 tho purchaser Of the ticket and so
on until every prospective spectator knows
| or thinks he knows where the battle is to be
I held All this requires time The sports.
[ fearful OF police lnterierenee or tne chance
I comes for a start 10 the rendezvous. The
/ wait costs them money. They have TO do
/ Increase the profits OF the saloon keeper.
IL Is late before the start be gins and when
/ 1t does the sport. gets taste OF hardship
/ 10 travel many miles perhaps In q oircuitous
way before he reaches the battle ground. which
/ may be "A dlnpdated stable or gymnasium
/ the spectators get seated they are Rppre-
hensive Of an immediate visit from the au-
! thoritics OF chance OF being waylaid by
/ some Of the suspicious characters who attend
/ these bouts" Pickpockets visit these MILF,
/ and II the sport Ia careless with any OF his
: valuable these gentry VII soon take charge
I Of IL Wa.ch and pins often disappear
/ at these lights As one victim recently
I put il within hearing Of TER SUS reporter;
1 The wise ones would not stop az the rat
iron Building = they could carry IL. | sun
/ pose they would steal mans wife II man
! was foolish enough 10 bring her along
/ The police are not always active 10 suppress
] sing these mills. Last summer in Harlem two
! local men met In fake ak round go" One
Of The men was in no shape to e. on and vas
Sgen knew IN thaf st w asf in SfGsTe
! for he entered tho hall In nervous fashion
and said 10 the promoters: Hurry this thin q
Inn s II ss they are Su5 y he
/ 20 all appearances knocked out. and the night
1 was over.