The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15
UIRKS Of
BY nALAcHr HOGAN

r.. There have been no more significant
occurrences in connection with the sport
i of boxing in many months, than the
/ recent court decisions favorable to the
/ holding Of bouts in New York and
L Pennsylvania. True, there can be no de-
/ cisions given and the New York YER
livered by police magistrate, but It IS
[ the entering wedge by which boxing
can be put upon legal basis.
Tom o 'Rourke had "a test case as to
I the legality of a twenty-round bout,
i with no decision, at his Tuxedo club,
lust outside Philadelphia. The princi-
pals Of the affair-two obscure boys
/ and the promoters were arrested and
discharged. Now O 'Rourke is planning
to hold some important battles, and if
lie cards the right people, will doubtless
get the money. His club is admirably
/ Situated and can draw on both New
York and Philadelphia.
s. Four-round bouts only are permitted
in New York. For year or more they
[ posedly only for the members Of the
particular club that promoted the show.
About a week ago an organization
( known as the Marlborough Athletic
club staged an exhibition and admitted
Che general public on the payment Of an
admission fee. The principals and pro-
motors were arrested. The magistrate
that they had no knowledge of what
was going on at the door, and therefore
were not guilty Of any 1nfraction Of
The laws. He also ruled that in case
there was no decision given by ref
cree or other person, whose word would
be taken as authority by the crowd, the
bout was perfectly legal.
Decisionless Bouts.
| This decision is about the same as
chat by which the Philadelphia clubs
! are governed. It has been proven that
boxing without a decision will draw
the crowds, and the prospects are that
boxing in the east will take on new
! life.
This opens up new field, and very
wide one, that has been much needed.
doubtless will be Of little Importance,
but there be 50 many Of them that the
| opponents Of the manly art can find
something to do all the time and make
very respectable ivings.
! + There are indications that the Cali
fornia field, which has been the only
/. one Of any consequence for long time,
! San Francisco trust can keep giving en-
tertainments is problematical. A change
Of administration is likely to bring
about the suspension Of boxing at any
time. The position Of the promoters in
Los Angeles seems to be none TOO Sc
cure, and the loss Of the purses offered
at these two places would put big
{ crimp in the, game if there were not
/ some other places to fall back on.
{ What the leaders Of the sport have
done in New York and Philadelphia
! probably could be done in Chicago, al
tho not in the same way. There seems
to be no chance to get favorable court
decision in Illinois. even for short bouts
with no decisions given. But vigor-
GUS placing Of the matter before the
legislature probably would bring about
on the statute books, which has been in
! terpreted by some to mean that gymna-
SUM sparring is a misdemeanor.
Short bouts are attractive. because
they are much faster than long ones.
How much the decision helps cannot be
told, exactly, but the absence Of it
t takes away .2yt in very large degree the
consequence. It is questionable If there
is much betting on ordinary bouts. The
time has passed when the principals
want to lay wager on every setto, and
/ the general public is without doubt
taking more interest in the sport itself
! and less in the gambling end Of It.
! Eyes on Los Angeles.
4 Fans all over the country will watch
events in Los Angeles for the next
month, for the best Of the little ones
will appear there and championships
are at stake. Opinion has not changed
much during the last week in regard
to the Neil-Attell battle, which occurs
4 this week. The well-informed ones be-
hot Noi1 - l..
! get to the clever Abe with anything
like a decisive wallop, while the latter
t cannot hit hard enough to do much dam
4 age.
IS, It seems to be pretty generally be-
lalieved that Attell will win on points
afSuch an outcome would serve to in
crease interest in his London engage
would be mighty we'll pleased to have
him bring back a report Of an Ameri
fcan victory instead Of wall over ii
ESusage. If Abe is as clever as he use6
ITO be and is physically At, he should dc
Is things to the Englishman.
liz The Milwaukee Athletic club has
s carded g. good bout for next Friday
night, when Jack Dougherty and HoneJ
round encounter. This should be rat
HID ting good battle, and at this distance
it does not seem that the winner car
be picked in a hurry. Probably Mel
Eiody will be a slight favorite, but the
lEbout cannot be called sure-thing fol
him by any means. AS with the Gard
ner match, this will be hard test fo1
Jack and victory would serve to raise
him considerably from the medium DO
rs sition to which he fell in his match Will
lis Jimmy Gardner
lbs As the better ring general, Melody
will have quite an advantage, but h.
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