The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-04
By JAY LEWIS.

Attempts nave peen mace 10 Iostor
boxing In Richmond. but tho pro-
motsrs are handicapped by the strin-
gent laws Besides. there does not
seem to be any speoiaI enthusiasm
over tho boxing game IN this eec.
ton Of the country. Fans like to dis
cuss boxers and boxing and talk IA
miliarly of the stars Of the ring. but
aside from that there does not seem
to be q wide and insistent demand
that law be enacted whereby even
amateurs may be enabled to display
their skin with the padded mitts.
Boxing Ii not regarded a. q re-
spectnbfe sport, tn spite OF the fact
that in Philadelphia. New \ 1rk. Bos-
ton, New Orleans. Los Angeles, San
Franciso. Milwaukee and other places
1t In now not only tolerated. but pro-
tected by law. and that amateur tour
naments are very popular
In college athletice It does not have
a conspicuous place. although II 10
advocated by 4 no less person than
Theodore Roosevelt. The former
President 10 an admirer Of strenuous
sport and boxing 10 delight with
him. When he was Police Commits
sioner u New York he never missed
come on the same night and he could
not attend both.
Many = good citizen who would not
advocate boxing openly has been
known to enjoy q clever bout, and
wealthy young men. such 40 Tony
Biddlc, Of Philadelphia, are stout
champions OF the game.
Enjoy Vicious Bouts.
Strange - Il may appear. tbs re-
spectacle element. which In supposed
to have placed the ban on boxing. Ii
this very class that enjoys a vicious
bout. At an amateur tournament.
where tho boys box three rounds
for decision. and necessarily nust
time, the spectators go wild with
enthusiasm. The contest in the ring
acts upon them as football bat
tie does upon the respectable bust
ness man in the grandstAnd. You've
seen him. He will arise and yell:
Get In the game, you slobs! kill
'ern! eat 'sm up!"
Thus II is with dignified men at
the ringside. The lowbrows. close
observers Of the game. are rarely
moved to this pitch Of excitement
They are moro interested In watch-
ing the foctwurk. keanting. timing
and the other finer points OF the
sc,enca. They viii see one man shift
aud throw his adversary's guard wide
op.a. They Will see him watch the
other fellow start a blow and then
whip his own punch TO tho marx be-
fore receiving the one intended Tor
him. BY accurate timing he beats
the other fellow 10 the punch and
sustasnx no damage himself while
putting homo q telling blow. He
win Judge the distances 80 accurate
Iy that he will let a left jao come
within a quarter Of an inch OF MS
moss. let 1t brush his cheek by turn
Ing his head ever 30 slightly, and
then counter before his opponent
can recover.
All this 10 seen by the experienced
ring followers. and Ia lost upon the
novtces. who cheer on the comhatants
and we'll for them 10 do each other
up.
Not In uplift Movement.
Hut no matter how scicnttnc
the boxers may be or how renpectA-
bic the surroundings Under which they
meet there is no use denying that box
ing is regarded as a brutal sport, ana
no member Of the uplift movement
will foster It. II may be u great game.
q Grand game, the greatest and sfH nd
est OF all games less DFutai tudh ioot~
bali and better sport than baseball.
rowing or hAndbali. from an athletic
point Of view. but there IL and there
will be a prejudice against boxing.
And the reason for this state OF at
fairs IL the manner In which the game
Is exploited.
To Repeal Frawisy Law.
In New York Governor Dix. accord
ing to current reports. will ask the
repeal Of tho Frawley law. In his next
message to the Legislature. His ac-
ton 10 duo to the scandal that has
attended the professional game In New
York city. When Governor Dix sign
ed the Frawiey bill making 1t a law
the writer observed: Now watch
some wise promoter put something
over and kill the game" Harry fNOr-
lok and Pat Powers proceeded to do
so In the Madison Square Athletic
club. and when Pollok tried to match
Jack johnson for q bout in New York
decent citizens again demanded that
the lid be put on by repeating the
Frawiey law.
Johnson 0aresd Again.
Jack johnson 10 likely to be barred
L. - ntArnr. u o.