Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-06
TULSA THROUGH
WITH FIGHTERS
THE TIME HAS COME WHEN BOX-
ING FARCES MUST CEASE
IN THIS CITY.
BOXING CAME IS DOOMED
State Law Should BE Enforccd-Pub
lie the Loser-Itun the Buns
Away From Here.

Prize fights, boxing matches, sparr-
ing exhibitions-cal them what you
may-are a thing of the past in Tul-
sa. Degrading bouts Of sickly ma
ture, framed and crooked to tho
taste Of the fighters, with the desires
of the public entirely forgotten, as
well as the money that was paid into
the box office, there is little to be said
Tulsa is a good town for anything
that Is legitimate. There was time
when the boxing game nourished here.
Time and again the fans were given
frightful doses, but after each occur
renee of this kind they showed their
gameness by attending the very next
show-with the result, nine times out
of ten, that they were "stung" again.
The only way to protect the pub
! lie is to call halt in the matter No
more boxing shows will be staged in
Tulsa. The game is doomed, IL not
dead one of the principal reasons
for this state of affairs is the bad
taste in the mouths Of the fans who
witnessed Tulsa IS last fistic. show.
wild Cat' Ferns, a boxer Of recog
nized ability, went against Art Magirl,
who also is known to have ability
along this line. The fans knew that
these boys could fight They knew
that IT was an even match. But when
the bout took place what was seen?
Two fellows in very tame, but clever
/ sparring match. But the fans wanted
something brutal. They wanted to see
blood flow and bones broken They
were disappointed. They have never
gotten over it. People, directly or in
directly connected with the Ferns
Magirl affair, were blamed and CEN
sored for their part in it-when the
only persons responsible for the fiasco
were the fighters themselves. They
got the money-the public got bllked.
And there you are. 1t has been done
previously and win be done again If
boxing matches are permitted to be
staged here.
Very few first-class fighters come
to Tulsa When they do come they
play crooked game and fleece the in
nocent public, so they are in reality
not better than the rough necks."
Most Of the hill-bllies who follow
the fight game in Tulsa have drifted
away. Let us hope that the rest of
the gang beats it" for other parts
and that the whole brigade stays
away. They will have no welcome in
Tulsa from now on, If indeed they
have had for some time past.
From all sections of the country
/ fighters are writing in for matches.
Let them all understand that they will
save money and trouble by staying
away from Tulsa
For the main part the pugs and fol-
lowers of the game, who have made
Tulsa their headquarters, are a bunch
of petty criminals who make their
living either by stealing or "mooch-
ing both OF which are about the
same. It's time they beat IT. for
other parts For the sake of public
decency and the future Of clean sports
they should make themselves scarce.
The Oklahoma state constitution
contains one Of the most rigid fight
laws in existence. Under its provis-
ions two men who step into a ring
NANh bNNhb tiNN'o VII, anu spar lOT
money, whether they strike a hard
blow or not, are guilty Of misde-
meanor, as well as the referee, pro-
motors, seconds and spectators. The
law has been repeatedly violated in
oklahoma Governor Cruce on a few
occasions has sent the state militia
to the ringside to uphold the majesty
or the law. Adjutant- General Can.
ton himself mas witnessed prize
fights at Dewey Sapulpa and other
points Prize fights were staged
within the past two weeks. under the
governors very nose. The state mi
lita sat at the ringside ~ Sapulpa
and watched one man knock out an
othtr one. Then the adjutant-gen
al stepped into the ring and stopped"
the fight-with one man unconscious
and no one to fight the remaining
contestant.
Boxing contests in Oklahoma, with
out exceptions, are prize fights. IT'S
high time the kibosh was put on all