Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-26
BRITISH IN FAVOR
OF CONTROL BOARD
Claim Body to Govern Boxing Will
Do Much to Restore
the Sport
MONTAGUE GIVES OPINION
Declares Present Day ScrapperS
Are Given Too Much by
Promoters
MONTAGUE GIVES OPINION

NEW YORK, Aug. 25.-Advocates OF
the proposed international board OF
control to regulate boxing throughout
the world lost fine chance to get the
sentiment of many of the prominent
men identified with the sport with the
view of forming an organization when
they failed to be present at the john
son-Jeffries fight, July 4. No battle IN
the history of the prize ring ever drew
such an attendance as was seen in the
arena at Reno, and 1t was OF sucn a
character as would have helped to ad-
vance the interests of the new scheme.
William Will of London, the origin
ator of the proposed change Of boxing
affairs, and a number of English
sportsmen intended to come over to
see the fight, and incidentally to OBJ
tain the views of men prominent IN
the game and to assist in organizing
a board of control. When the battle
ground, however, was transferred from
San Francisco to Reno and the subse-
quent doubts arose as to whether the
big pugilists would ever meet, the
Londoners Cancelled all their engage
ments in this country.
If boxing were placed under the
management of board of control II is
believed it would do away with much
of the pickering between the promoter
and the boxer, and in deciding arbl-
trarily the weights at which boxers
must defend their titles, and not to
allow q man to set weight limit to
suit himself. 1t is suggested that the
board shall consist of two represen-
tatives each from England, America
and France and one from Australia.
Since the inception of the scheme,
which has the warmest support OF such
English sportsmen as the Earl OF
Lonsdale, Sir Claude Champion de
Crespigny, Admiral the Hon. Victor
Montague, J. H. Douglas, president of
the Amateur Boxing association; Will
liam Will, Eugene Cook and A. F. Bet
tinson, manager of the National Sport
ing club of London, it has received
flattering encomiums from sportsmen
all over the world.
MONTAGUE AIRS OPINION
Hon. V. A. Montague has this to say
in favor of the new scheme: 1T goes
without saying that all competitions in
which foreigners compete, In whatever
country, must be run under stringent
rules applicable to all alike. I should
therefore advise that all competitors
should be obliged to sign an agree
ment to box under the established rules
before they enter the ring 1t Is also
necessary when looking at it in another
aspect. AS matters are now, any
boxer may study a style of his own
liking and become proficient in its
methods, and find when he puts on his
gloves in foreign country his tactics
do not conform with the rules In vogue.
Half the cautions given by the ref
erees would be unnecessary, and 1t
would entirely do away with any ex-
cuse that favor or affection has ruled
a decision.
again, am personally adverse to
any competition lasting more than f1f-
teen rounds. We do not want endur-
ance to be the main test Of the boxers
capabilities. Surely during fifteen
three-minute rounds there is ample
time to score on points or for one or
the other to bring matters to an issue,
but as matters are now the first few
rounds are devoted either to sparring
or to finding out weak points and If
nine cases out of ten the last five
rounds or so may be boxed by two
exhausted men.
at have not seen the man yet who
can box for more than fifteen rounds
when it comes to real boxing of an
even nature, and if one is better than
the other It's really over before fifteen
rounds have been gone through at any
time. My other opinion is that I, for
one, deprecate the absurdities of the
high figures demanded to bring two
men together.
"Gate money and the interests of
'runners-up' are one thing, but sport
in it's true form is not compatible with
the overwhelming instincts for money
and the ridiculous prices that the pub
lie is called upon to pay for seats in
consequence. There are exceptions,
but have often seen as good a dis
play of boxing and fighting gone
through by lesser so-called stars that
are content with moderate stakes and
that often give us a better run for
our money"