The evening world., 1911-02-27
R:Gy~~A
~
Boxing Was Never on a Better
Footing Than 1t Is To-Day,
and II Is Largely Because Of
the Improvement in the Pres
ent Day Boxer.

III news " AH' f'NAAh hi7
comes from California. whore the
LEGISLATURE has been considering
an attack upon boxing made by the
''reformers."
on Saturday the matter came up be.
fore the Committee ON Public Morals.
one OF whose members had been busily
engaged In drawing up n new boxing
bill which would limit glove contests TO
fifteen rounds. A majority In the COM
mittee decided that It was best TO let
the bill die in committee conse-
quently the bill was not reported. and
in all probability the present Legislature
will not make any change In the pres
ent boxing laws. This means that box
ing will 20 on In California under the
same conditions that prevailed before
Gov. Gillett used his personal power
TO overrule the local authorities In san
Francisco and prevent the holding OF
the Jeffries-JDhnson battle In that city.
@OME OF the other Western States
are preparing to legallze boxing
again, and, taken all around. the
game has never been on n better foot
ms. 1t II recognized now ms n legit'-
mate branch OF professional sport and
one OF the most popular. one thing
that has tended to bring this about. |
believe. IL the Improvement In the pres
ent day boxer. Years ago boxers were
prize fighters. nothing more. They were.
A. a general rule. Of a low order OF
morallty. spendthrif,s. hard drinkers
and carousers between bouts, always
living on the outskirts OF the law.
When they fought they were attsndc.
by mobs OF thugs and pickpockets.
To-day nearly all OF the successful
boxers are clean living men. who would
~ a credit to any professional sport.
BAckey- Mcfarland Tommy Murply.
X. q. Brown. One-I.ound Hogan, Bat-
Ting Nelson. Al Kaufman. Jimmy Car
roll. Johnny C~oulon. Frankie Burns.
Battling Hurley. Dan .nd Jack Sullivan
and scores Of others that ! might mem
tion have set an example that thou
sands are following. These are all men
who never drink. smoke or dlssipate In
any way. They are successful because
they regard their 'ofession az one that
demands clean. straight living. Their
influence Is felt everywhere. Thousands
VI pOsS WIN lpliON Tue fVbIl, ii u b'
only IN the columns OF the newspapers.
have learned by their example that dis
sipation and success never go togcthe'.
Even schoolboys know now that clean
living Is the first requirement OF sue
GERS In any kind OF athletic sport. and
the modern boxer has been instrumental
In spreading this knowledge even moro
than N other fessional athlete.
@LEAN living is necessary to a sue.
ccssful bah player. runner
jumper, weight throwcr. boxer
oarsman-to any man who needs n clcai
eve and speed and endurance and cour
are. There ave been a few great ath
letes who d~issippated - bu, THEi
NEVER LAST. Their natural abilit!
carries them along for a while, but whe,
they begin TO 20 down they 20 sud
denly, and they never come up again
have many letters from boys. nskinl
my advice IN the matter 81 training.
Is impossible 10 lay down a certain ron
tine thai win NJ all clges. D!fcrol
athletes need different kinds ana differ
ent degrees OF WORK. Some need yer
little training. some a great deal TO AT
tain the same proficiency, But there
one rule that must always be observe
10 bring out the best that il In yul
Clean living. plenty OF sleep, plain fol
and NEVER TOO MUCH FOOD, an
with that "a moderate amount of ply
cal work. II you observe this youll d
an athlete. even II YOU never compete
any branch OF sport.
know a man who was a trained at
lete twenty-five years ago.
lie hasn't competed during that tweI
ty-hye years. bur he has always live
by tho rules that govern an aihlct
To-day. at hfty-two. he Is perfect
healthy. strong as an OK. and lool
about thirty-nve years OF age. Does
pay? IT CERTAINLY DOES
YOUNG GRIiFFO, who was tiuo'
years ago as the cieycrcst % -
i lightwc.ghts, wants to try the o
game asaln. Probably some n the loo
clubs viii he glad 10 put him on. In
bout a few weeks ago a. the Long A.
CRITIC showed that be hasn't forsott'
the skill that helped him make an ii
: great men OF MS day look Ike novice
The skill vas there, even though Grit
might not ave been able TO stand I
wear OF an actual battle In the ring.
.'What want GIino told mc, IFS
chance to take OF some fOur-rul
bouts. ia do a bit Of training and
think I'd have n chance with tho b1
around here. ! ought 10 be given
show. don't YOU know, when they lea
how i've been taking care OF myself
haven't had "A drink fos several mont
and I'm pretty Mt | was foolish !
many of the others, IN my time.
made a lot of money and might ho
beer well of now II / hadn't thrown
away Fighters are wiser now N
they used to be about money.
II have boxed "A few exhibitions n
have an idea hat | could go ~
snouRh IN four rounds. OF course
not the man I used to be, but | q
hight well enough for those I've s.
around lately. After a little ! 60
take on sIS rounds aud try the L
notchers. My is as good as e
and have the speed"