The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-03

BY w. B. c'BAT'D MAsTERsoN.

n TEW YORK is the first state in
nj the Union TO have a commission
VI to regulate boxing. This official
body either will be most helpful
in promoting ring sport in New York,
and ultimately in the country at large,
or it will be very injurious TO the pro.
fessional boxing game. There will be
no middle ground
Before the commission has become an
active working body 1t is impossible TO
| predict as 10 its efficiency of delin-
quencies, but it is entirely possible TO
point out the pitfalls that lie before IL,
as well as the opportunities for the bet
terment of professional boxing.
Asked offhand what appears to me Ia
be the biggest obstruction with WHICH
tho New York State Athletic commits.
sion. or any future commissions created
by other states, may collide. l should
| say politics
Az its very inception the New York
commission seems destined TO run either
counter 70 or hand in glove with city
politicians. But / can tell you more
about that later.
The three New York commissioner
James r. Sullivan. the well-known and
ior John j. Dixon. retired National
Guardsman and Frank O'Ncill OF Bing;
hamton. will hold the fate of the box
ing game in the palms Of their hands.
With the single exception OF the san
Francisco supervisors, they compose the
only body vested with legal authority TO
oversee and control boxing contests or
prizefights.
Other states and cities in which are
Laf1 e. -
ring battles will watch New York close
", and upon the success Of the New
York species OF regulation viii depend
a general revival OF boxing ring sport
in many sections of the United States
where the authorities now frowp on il,
or where hastily enacted statutes pre-
vent it.
James E. Sullivan is president Of the
commission. a unique selection. IL must
be admitted. since the president of the
greatest amateur athletic organization
in the world finds himself called upon
TO head q body having 20 do almost en-
tirely with professional sport. | do
not mean by this TINT the selection Of
Mr.. Sullivan was unwise. On the con-
trary, ] consider him q high-minded,
able and honest authority. who will be
in position to do much for profes.
sionnl boxing and who can rid boxing
OF some of its present unpleasant fea-
lures.
But ! shall not be surprised-and. in
fact, predict-thst the amateur ath-
letes IN the A. A. u will soon raise the
point and ask Mr. Sullivan how he rec
onciles his association with amateur
sports with his presidency of body
dealing exclusively with professional
sports.
Now that il has come under state di-
rectlon boxing is an open spart IN New
York; sport thar may be patrouized
with the same freedom rs baseball or
football. No longer will ring devotees
have 10 fear police intrusion or have to
give their names and addresses when
the police have hustled in and ended a
night s sport in boxing club.
~ the commission goes about il in q
fair. fearless and intelligent manner
there will be a vast improvement in
boxing II it permits n few politicians
to gain control Of the game il will work |
incaleuleble injury TO the sport.
No state commission with 2 promi. |
nent amateur at its head should make |
the mistake OF applying amateur meth |
odS 10 professional sports. The methods |
are widely dissimilar. However. many
good features may be derived from ANA
tsur methods.
One thing is certain, professional box !
ing Will be made cleaner There will al. !
ways be frame-ups. but under commits !
sion supervision this evil will be less. |
ened. With the eve Of the state on him |
no manager could afford to counte- |
nance frame-ups, not merely because |
the state would rescind the license of |
his club. but because he would become |
an object Of suspicion throughout the |
entire world Of sport and find il inn |
possible to attract a following else.
where.
Other states which. in time. will ere.
ate boxing commissions will profit by
tne defects in the New York bill. This
bill fixes the weight OF the gloves at
eight ounces. A siX-ounce glove would
have been better. and the five-ouuce
glove is the one that should be used.
Time will show whether il was wise
10 empower the commission to rsvoks
the license Of any club manager on
whose premises fake or doubtful fight
was pulled off. II is entirely possible
that rigidly honest club manager
might incur the eumitv Of two fight /
eFs or Of two fighters managers who
could frame up o fight TO be held in
the managers clubhouse Then the
commission would step in and cancel
the club e license.
There are more ways than ono OF
cookingD a club
And this il one Of the wavs
! should not be surprised 10 see sir,.
liar commissions created in Massaehn.
setts. Maryland, California. Louisiana
ana Wisconsin. Perhaps no effort will