The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-01-23
FIGHT WILL
TEST LAWS
Thompson-Sullivan Contest An.
nounced for Ogden Has
Significance.
EFFORT MAY MAKE IT
FIGHT TO FINISH
Indications That Contest viii Be
Held to Settle Question Of
Legal Boxing.

That the approaching boxing con-
test between Johnny Thompson
ond Peter Sullivan, who 1t is an
nounced has been matched to fight
In Ogden on February 1lth, will in
reality be finish fight with a view
to testing the state laws IN order to
determine the standing before the
proposed Jelfries-Johnson match is
pulled OF is the latest talk of local
sportdom and there Is reason TO be.
lieve that the facts substandate this
gossip.
While R A Grant is ostensibly tho
promoter, 1t is said that Tex Rick
ard J. E. Langford and associates
who have charge of the heavyweight
worlds championship contest are in
reality back of the Thompson-S Sulli.
van match with the understanding
that the law will be tested
In view OF statements made by the
governor and the position taken by
other authorities. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that the promoters would
make an effort to feel the official
pulse before going further with the
big contest
An Understanding Existed.
Before the recent Sulliyan-Collins
match during the Wool Growers con-
ventlon that no decision was to be
rendered and it was agreed that
there should be no knockout Little
protest was entered from public or
officials either before or after the
fight and this, II is believed, has Gu
couraged promoters to attempt
more daring test In the same direc-
tlon. AS a matter OF fact no at
tempt was ever made to conceal the
"no-decision" feature of tho bout
1t may he safely said then that a
good deal depends upon the success
OF failure of the approaching bout
at Ogden and considerable interest
was awakened following last nights
announcement that Sullivan and
Thompson have been matched.
Cyclone Johnny" who Is favor
ite in local spoHdom and is regard
ed as an adopted son, obtained much
of his popularity through his willing
ness to take a chance" on other
occasions when there was some doubt
about "re-opening" the boxing game
In this city. and 1t is known that he
is not averSe TO making another at
tempt in the same direction.
Pete Sullivan is Just as game and
nearly as popular locally.
There is little doubt, therefore. that
the bout, If staged here. as an
nounced will test the sentiment.
whether Richard is actually interest
ed financially or not
The bout between Thompson and
Sullivan, even though the finish hght
idea should be abandoned and the
match should develop into another
exhibition match promises 10 be
highly interesting and II Is likely
that It Will attract the largest gath
ering that has ever surrounded
prize ring In Utah. Thompson and
Sullivan have fought three times be-
fore-twice at Ogden-and honorS
are about evenly divided, with
shade In favor OF the latter. he hav-
Ing secured a decision at the end
OF 20-round encounter year ago.
Prior to that time Thompson. having
scored knockout in a fight at the
Hot Springs, held the honorS.
While no one questions the SIN
cerity of Governor Spry there ap-
pears to be some doubt as TO the le-
gality of the state laws on this sub
ject and there is a question wbeth-
er their enforcement would carry a
penalty severe enough to stop nm
ish fight. Tests made In local
courts a year or two ago Indicated
that the manipulation OF bouts would
have a comparatively easy time OF
II so far as the strength of the laws
themselves was concerned.