Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-15
PLAN TO REVISE
BOXING WEIGHTS
LONDON SPORTING PAPER
STARTS AGITATION
NECESSITY OF REVISION UNIVER.
SALLY ADMITTED
International Conference of Promoters
and Referees Probably Will Be
calIed-SevsraI Scraps on
Bill This Week
BY JAY DAVIDSON


authority as Sporting Life, London,
has taken up the agitation Tor an IN
ternational conference for the ADJUST
ment and revision of weights at Whlch
pugilistic championship contests are to
be held in future throughout the world.
At various times in the last four years
1 have urged this universal agreement
upon a uniform system of weights, with
the addition Of one or two intermediate
divisions to enable boxers who are too
heavy for one division and too light for
the next succeeding class to get en-
gagements in a championship division
where they can meet opponents on even
terms and physical equality.
Since the date at which the present
weights became recognized as of
ficial' the sport has grown and pros
pered and become so universally popu-
lar that the number of boxers has
grown vastly greater, and today there
are many fighters of good class who
practically are barred from participat-
ing in championship contests because
they are too heavy for one division ana
yet too light to have any cnance with
topnotchers in the next heavier divis-
ion. Boys like Johnny Coulon, one of
the greatest little fighters in the world,
and destined to become a world cham
pion some day, when he takes on few
more pounds, are placed in the embar-
RAISING predicament of being too light
to fight for the lightest recognized
championship, the bantam title, and
therefore must rattle around in the
paperweight division until they grow
big enough to get into the bantam di-
vision
Eight Divisions Needed
AS I have argued at all times in the
past there should be eight fight divis-
ions, as follows: 1O5 pounds, bantam
at 115 pounds, feather at 125 pounds,
light at 1875 pounds, Welter at 145
pounds, middle at 100 pounds, light
heavy at 175 pounds and heavy at all
weights over 175 pounds.
These weights would be hailed with
joy by the fighters, except, possibly,
the title holders. That a readjustment
OF weights along these lines would be
not only fair to the great majority of
fighters, but to the patronizing public
as well is proved in the following in
stances:
Johnny Coulon, classy and Of proved
championship caliber, is a natural
105-pounder but is forced to contend
for the 116-pound title against boys to
whom he must give away great weight
that places him under an almost i'm
possible handicap. There are fifty
others, at least, in this same class who
are thus handicapped
Packy Mcfarland, one of the great
est lightweightS in the world today,
finds it difficult to make the light
weight limit and be in condition to
fight at his real form, while he is five
to seven pounds too light to go into
the welter division. Jack Blackburn
is another striking example of the ex-
lied fighter because of the present
weights, being too heavy to do 133
pounds and be strong and yet too
light to have an even break in weights
with welters.
Stanley Ketchel, middleweight cham
pion, is about to be forced to abdicata
his throne because he is too heavy to
make 154 or even 15S pounds and be at
his best form, but who would stay in
that division at 100 pounds. Jim Flynn
is another middleweight who would be
enabled to get into a class where he
would be a contender for championship
honors if the middle division were to
be raised to $50 pounds.
Tommy Burns, Philadelphia Jack
O'Brien, Sam Langford and half a
score Of other classy light heavy
weights who have been forced to fight
men who outweighed them from ten to
sixty pounds would be rejoiced at the
creation of the recognized light heavy
weight championship division and
would be able to make the required
It's pounds easily and be strong This
new division would let them out of the
heavyweight class and make them
great drawing cards as contenders for
the light heavyweight championship.
Ad Wolgast and Harry Baker find it
rather difficult to be classed as feather
weights at the 122-poUnd figure, al
though neither of this classy pair is
heavy enough to be a serious contender
IN the lightweight division, and in a
short time they will be pugilistic exiles
because of their increasing weight.
Universal Agreement Desired
1t unquestionably is time for uni
FersaI agreement upon revised weights
and the creation OF the two new di-
visions, but this is not the only subject
hat should be considered at the con-
ference. At this conference a revised
set Of rules governing ring contests
should be drawn up and after uni
Eersally agreed upon published to the
sporting world. With an international
conference, which would represent the
Farious nations where boxing contests
ire permitted and held, the new weight
arrangement and the new set of rules
iurely would be adopted, and then it
would be possible for fighters aspiring
% championships to meet opponents in
Ill countries under the same conditions
is regards weight and rules, which
ioes not obtain at this time
About two years ago Manager Tom
McCarey of the Pacific Athletic club of
Los Angeles had arranged plans for in
yiting the leading promoters and ref
.rees of America to meet in conference
n Los Angeles for the purpose Of re-
Using the weights and rules governing
ooxing contests and this conference
undoubtedly would have been called
lad not the Burns-O'Brien muddle
same along and upset all plans. At
hat time discussed the weight system
ind some of the changes that should be
made in the rules, and several prom
nent promoters and referees were
tsked to express an opinion regarding
he proposed conference, all of whor.,
replied affirmatively and encouraged
he plans by promising to attend. Now
hat the London sportsmen are taking
10 the agitation an International con-
ference seems probable at an early day,
Ind all who are interested in the box
ng game will welcome the news that
he conference has been called.
Manager McCarey has arranged a
lard for his Tuesday night show that
should pack the pavilion. Every num-
Der on the program is one filled with
Ereat promise as regards real fighting
md prospective knockout. Boys who
lave proved themselves to the salts
action of the supporting fans are en-
ragged in each of the seven bouts
.arded.
The double header main event pos
sesses better class than usually is
found in the minor event offerings,
both bouts being over the ten-round