The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-08
RULES SUGGESTED
FOR BOXING GAME
Rough Outline of Code
Which Would Eliminate
Objectionable Features.
DEEP INTEREST SHOWN
Thousands of Persons IN Washington
Would Like to See Properly
Conducted Matches.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

By THOMAS S. RICE.
That there Is a very general interest
in boxing in Washington and that this
interest rs shared by all classes and all
ages was proved beyond all doubt on
Monday afternoon and evening by The
crowds which assembled IN front OF The
Times office TO hear the returns from
the Gaus-Nelson championship battle az
G0ldfeld. Ney
II is a low estimate 10 say that the re-
turns were heard wholly or In part by
between 5000 and 20.vo0 persons, and Of
these fully 5000 waited 20 hear every
word OF the forty-two rounds. There
were hundreds OF representatives of cy-
cry walk in life. and taking il as
whole. the crowd was of as high. if not
higher. class as would be found listen
ing 10 the bulletins on any other subject
of general interest
Drew More Than Election.
The Times was well aware that inter
est I'm the night was very general and for
that reason took pains 10 give by far
the best accounts and pictures of the
men from the day they reached Golddeld
until the afternoon of the engagement,
and TO arrange for a quick ana accur-
ate bulletin service which made that OF
the other papers i'm town appear foolish
but il must be confessed that even the
managers of this paper were somewhat
surprised by the size and enthusiasm of
the gathering The announcing of re-
turns I'm a Presidential election does not
draw more people in Washington than
e.
uugilistic encounter.
An This is a sign that there are peo-
PIE I'm Washington who sJm have Ted
blood in their veins and enjoy manly
contest The debating societies. pink
teas. al busy-body reformers have not
suppressed an the live ones. and there
are still thousands OF frank and open
admirers of the manly art OF self-de-
Tense. These people have not been fool
Cd by the praunE and pretended horror
Gf uotOriety- seeking self-eXploiters who
like 10 get their names into the papers
as presiding M meetings for the suppress
sion of something that does not concern
them In the least
Should Be Encouraged.
They believe that il is good To enCour-
age boxing under certain restrictions and
teach young men 20 rely upon their
fists I'm time of trouble instead Of sub
hitting mcekly to gross insult TO them
selves or their women folk or falling
back upon deadly weapon. This is a
point the spotlight reformers will not
see. because when 10 is made plain that
proper enCOuTa cement OF boxing is real
~ a means of lesseuing the number of
felonious assa ults their calling is gone
and their medium of publicity IS lost,
Boxing is "A manly sport without nee
cessarily brutal features. ana proficiency
in il is a most useful accomplishment
when you are attacked Its decline has
been due 20 the efforts of a class Of
butt-ins who don't know what they are
talking about. These have bcstirred
themselves SO iudustriousIy and have
raised such "a hue and cry that they
have scared cheap politicians who want
ed their votes into passing bills which
have killed the game.
Something should be done 90 re-estab-
lsh ring contests under legal supervi-
sion I make the following suggestions
for "a code of rules. and am positive
that if they were adopted and adhered
20 they would do far more good than
harm
Tentative Boxing Code
First. There should be a boxing COM
mission composed of one physician, one
representative citizen. and one acknowl-
edged expert on boxing. who has had
practical experience in handling and
matching men. This commission have
the right 10 bar any man for taking or
other good reasons
Second. There should not he more
than one series of bouts IN a city in
two weeks
Third All bouts should be lsnited TO
fifteen rounds except battles for real
championships. and the championship
CLASSES. should be legally fixed by the
commission. These should be allowed
10 go twenty or twenty-five rounds.
Fourth. No man should be allowed TO
enter the ring who has not been passed
by a physician employed by the club for
that purpose, whose name is registered
with the commission. Also each man
should De so examined twice-ou the
day of the battle and one week before.
In other words, a man should have at
least a weeks training before lighting,
and If ON his first examination ne is
found 10 be In such condition that the
physician thinks he cannot get strong in
week. then a certificate should be re-
fused him.
Fifth Referees should be thoroughly
qualified and should be registered after
examination on the rules of the game
and their ability 10 tell by looking at
man whether he is being seriously af-
fected by his punishment. a.. B.-This
is "a most important item i refereeing
and should receive more attention than
81 hasl
Physician at Ringside.
sixth. A representative Of the State
commission and physician should be
at the ringside, and either of these and
the referee should have the bout stopped
for good or for am examination of
man apparently In distress. and If the
man is in bad shape anyone of the three
officials. not a majority, should have the
right 20 order him out OF the ring (N.
R-If there had been such rule as that
Frankie Neil would never have killed
Harry Tenny in San Francisco last
spring.)