New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-26
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Need of Uniform Interpretation
for the Queensberry Rules.
CODE SHORT AND SIMPLE
Jack Sicily Expresses Views OF
Boxing and Favors Max
ing Decisions.

Jack skeliy. one OF the referees hcenseh
by the State Boxing Commission IS nr'n
believer I'm the suggestion advanced by Joe
Ward that a meeting OF the various ret-
erees should be held to agree on a UNIFORM
INTERPRETATION Of the Marquis II queens
berry rules. which govern most ooxlns
bouts. Many followers Of the sport are
completely in the dark concerning the code
which ls simple in the extreme and made
I'D Of only twelve rules. which are short
enough to he pasted in ones hat. Nhen
the late Marquis of Queensbetry made A
visit to this country, in 1889, he laughed AT
the way the rules had been butchered and
tuIlsd apart in this country and furnished
the following copy Of the original code TO
Skelly:
Ore-To he a fair. stand-up boxing matcn
IN n twenty-four-lo DOT ring. or as near 'haI
size as practicable. ,,s
Three-The rounds to be of three minutes
duration. and one minute time pet"eeh
rounds.
F0ur-If either man falls through weak
ness or otherwise. he must get up unas-
sisted: ten seconds TO be allowed him 10 90
so. the other man meanWhile TO return ~
his corner, and when the fallen man Is on
his legs the round Is 10 he resumed ana
continued Until the three minutes have eH-
piref. II one man falls to come 10 scratch
In ten seconds allowed. II shall De in the
power Of the referee TO give his award III
favor Of the other man.
Ffve-A mar hanSirg on the ropes In
helpless state. with MS toes on the GROUND,
shall be considered down
.;iX-\O second or other person 10 be al
lowed IN the ring during the rounds.
Seven-Should the contest be stopped by
any una voiddble intsrf. renee, the referee
10 name inc and place. as soon as possible
B. .,--~ rat he q
must 10 ,-on md lost. unless the hackers
Of both mon agree 10 draw the stakes.
Eight-The gloves 10 be fair sized boxing
gloves OF the best quality, and new.
Nire-Should glove burst or come on.
It must be replaced to the referees salts
faction.
Ten-A man on one knee is considered
down. and II struck IS entitled to the
Eieven--No shoes or boots with springs
allowed.
to ne governed by the revised rules OF the
London prize ring.
In commenting on these rules Sicily says
I'm THE Workers Daily News:
Tho rules arc simple and should he
easily interpreted by any intelligent ref
cree The original rules are we'll worth
preserving by every sporting reader ot"The
Daily News" In fact. every referee should
paste a copy Of them in his hat
Modern fighters and referees should
take particular notice Of Rule 2, which
fcrbids wrestling and huzging These tire
some tactics disgust fair minded fight
fans There's too much of that sort Of
thing in the ring. and It's the duty Of the
referee 20 stop H.
Joe Ward. Of Rockaway Beach, gave
me- a happy suggestion He thinks that all
the official state referees should get to-
gether and agree upon the proper interpre-
tation Of the rules az they were originally
framed. They should also settle upon the
nroper Commensurate the third man should
receiye for his services. I consider this
very good idea. and would give my hearty
s,pport TO such a conference You know,
Toe IS PROBABLY the oldest Queensberry ref
ereo in the game, and has officiated at
more contests than any man 7 know Of.
IT'S no picnic 70 properly referee an i'm
portant contest. where thousands Of dollars
are no, on the result OF course under the
new rulings OF the athletic commission We
are not allowed 20 give decisions, Whlch
takes considerable respcn siolllty OF the
referees shoulders and makes IL raIHeT
easy FOR him. I am. however, mucn IN "a
vor Of giving decisions. This might TAX
the brain Of the third man, but IN my opln-
ion IT'S only right and proper.
III certainly makes one tired 10 see some
~ ,he referees Shaping and pulling the
present day fighters apart. Ihey shoulq
compel boxers 10 break without any suCu
actions. In fact a referee has no business
whatever 10 nut his hands on the contest
ants He should order them 20 break. ana
II they refuse after being twice command
cd 70 do So they should ne dlsquaH'i,eu
Let the referees enforce ms RUE Iii,
times. and ycu'U soon notice how qulChIs
tho fighters will obey orders. nat = IHs
wav they referee contests I'm England ana ana
Australia, and why can't II he done mere
Charles W Fbbets. owner of the Brook
lvn superhas. announced in Pittsburgh yes
terdav that William r Dahlen had signed
contract 10 manage the team again next
year The Superhas have not set Brooklyn
an ere this wear. in spite Of the high hopes
NJ tho fans" when the season began.
They have been strong enough 70 De
thorn in the sides Of the Chicago cubs but
otherwise they have failed 70 make as good
a showing as in 1910. when Dahien hrst
took the reins Ehbets appears 10 nave
every confidence. however, I'm the one-ume
New York player. and better results may
come another year.
Baseball has its Charley Faust and
boxing has its Battling keefe the
"middlewelght champion Of the world.
Keefe made himself famous among the
fight fans recently by wandering into
the Twentieth Century Athletic Club and
demanding a match with Billy Papke.
THAT was before tie Kewanee battler ana
sailor" Burke boxed. Just now keete
scouts Papke. and declares that he is the
real champion. and wants 20 fight Frank
Klaus.
Kcefe met the mighty Ketchel in pre-
arranged bout at Felix Boehms camp on
staten Island a couple Of years ago, ana
STANLEY quit in the first round. Leach
Cross. Willie Beecher and several other
boxers Of note also went down 10 a cold
knockout" before the mighty Keefe.
Having accomplished all this. Keefe
writes TO The Tribune requesting that he
be known in the future as Knockout
Keefe middleweight champion or the
world
II is long lane without turn, and a
weak worm which will not turn in self
defence al least once The preliminary
bout boxers are about 20 form a union in
order 10 secure better remuneration for
their services. According 70 one or the
leaders in the movement, the preliminary
boys get little Of the coin and whole
lot OF licEiugs for little money. 1t is re-
ported that they are 10 seek hearing
before the Boxing Commission in the eff
fort to secure better pay >or their SER
vices.
\ card Of boxing bouts which gives
every promise OF being one Of the best
ever offered by the Twentieth Century