Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-12
BRITT WRITES OF THE CAME
Says Boxing is Peculiar to English
Speaking People All Over World.
REFEREE OUTSIDE THE RIM
Britt Maintains that a Better Glass of
Mem Are Taking Up the Boxing
Game and that 1T is Help
ing the Sport.

NEW YORK, Dec. n.-Jimmy Britt, ex-
champion lightweight pugilist Of America,
sends from South Africa, where he is at
present, an interesting article on boxing.
The Californian says the art of boxing,
unlike most other sports, is peculiar to
the English speaking people. Although
France has recently taken to the sport,
the boxing game there is in its infancy.
Thus, the field is confined to England and
the United States of America. England was
the birthplace of modern boxing and the
laws laid down by her for the conducting
OF pugilistic contests are, with a few
changes followed in the United States.
The first Of these changes, Britt points
out, is the presence of the referee inside
Of the ring instead of outside, as in Eng
laid. In order to- see everything that
takes place and to be in a position to see
every blow struck 1t is absolutely neces-
sary for the referee to be in the ring and
to be moving about with the boxers, keep
ing at all times a position that will enable
him to judge whether a blow is fair or
foul. For instance, a referee sitting out
side the ring cannot see where a blow
strikes when the back of one of the fighters
is turned toward him. He may see the
blow started, but he cannot possibly know
whether 1t lands fair or foul. This situa-
ton, owing to Che constant moving of the
boxers, may occur 100 times in the course
of a twenty-round contest, and it is a
temptation, especially to a nearly beaten
man. to either try to disable his opponent
by a foul blow or to fall down and pre-
tend that he himself was struck unfairly.
This temptation does not present Itself when
he is in the ring and changing his posi-
tion so as to keep the arms of both men
within his vision.
Another reason in favor Of the inside
referee Is that he is at all times able ia
separate the men when holding and clinch-
ing. 1t is all very well to say, 'disqualify
the holder" but unfortunately human ma
ture. and self-preservation being its first
law. a weak or badly hurt boxer Will hold
until such time as he has recovered
strength and his head clears. In this way
the public who have paid to see a contest
and who after all, are 70 be considered
most, are enabled to see to a finish, con.
tests that would be otherwise curtailed By
the strict enforcing Of this rule.
Odium D~IsapPearing.
The odium long attached to the BOXING
profession is fast disappearing, especial!
In America. Britt further says. This /
entirely due to the fact that a better elias
OF men arc adopting 1t as a business. T
one not aware of the tremendous interes
aroused and the fortunes made on cham
pionship contests this may seem strangC
but 1t Is nevertheless a fact that a cham
plon boxer In America, II he be not
, spendthrift, may amass enough none,
while comparatively a young man to liv
comfortably for the rest OF his life. TIL
, Is not possible In England, where contest
! OF this kind are held in private clubs
! from which the public are excluded. 4
, America all who have the price are wei
come. and for that reason The gate re
4 ceipts are large and the boxer better palt
! The more money to be made the more In
! ducement for intelligent men to adopt IL a
4 a business.
According to Britt. the day OF the lii
. erty-taking. rowdy boxer has long sine
! gone by. The public soon tired OF him. anS
besides. IL Is never necessary TO be tous
= outside a ring In order 70 be tough insid
lone. In America the successful boxer &