Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
Boxers Hurt Themselves and
Game in Anxiety for Matches.
NOT FAIR TO FOLLOWERS
Many Fighters Will Train Below
Weight, Knowing They
Can't Win.
BY T. s. ANDREWS.

the boxing clubs to take the question
into their own hands and prevent the
practice. When boxer enters into a
contest he is supposed to be at his best
and TO give an exhibition such as will
be pleasing to the spectators. the same
as an actor is in a position to do his
best on the stage. There have been
many instances OF late where boxers
have made such low weight that they
were unable to do themselves justice or
10 make a respectable showing against
their opponents in the ring. This was il
Illustrated more plainly than usual at Ke-
nosha, WIS.,, in the contest between
Johnny Coulon the bantamweight cham
pion, and Harry Forbes. the ex-champion
of this country. Coulon was within his
rights in demanding that the bantam
weight limit, which is 116 pounds ringside,
be made by Forbes, but the latter was
not treating the followers of the game
right when he agreed to make weight
which he knew would render him incapa-
BILE of putting up his best battle against
man OF Co,Tlon's class. Forbes made
the weight four hours before the con-
test. but not until he had been in
Turkish bath most of the AFTERNOON. and
thus Slapped out his strength. The result
was that while Forbes did the best he
could against the champion, he did not
have the stamina to Withstand the blows
handed cut by Coulon. In my opinion
Coulon would have won. no matter
whether Forbes was at his hest or not.
but this only illustrates how a boxer
can be weakened to such an extent in
making low weight that he has abSo-
lutely no chance to win outside of the
chance blow 1t was the same case with
Frankly Conlcy. when he fought Coulon
dit New Orleans year ago. Conley made
1l6 pounds four hours before the fight,
and il was to his weakened condition
that his manager ascribed his defeat.
Now Conley and toulon arc matched TO
fight at Los Angeles next month. under
exactly the same condition, and it is hard
10 see how Frankly is going to make the
weight again and be strong There were
several instances i'm the east where box
ers have been put out of 1T the same
way. and il seems that promoters should
be obliged to use q little Judgment in the
matter and refuse to make matches
where the taking OFF of the extra pound
is going to weaken the tighter to such
an extent that he cannot do himself
justice. II is only fair to the people who
patronizc the sport to see that both con-
Iestants are physically fit for battle Of
this kind
Despite the fact that a great deal of
the agitation against the boxing game has
been caused by the enormous purses de-
manded by some of the stars, which the
papers usually give plenty of space to,
II seems that the boxers are slow to real
ize their position. Instead of being will
ing to come off their lofty perch and help
the game, they are just as .dictatorial as
ever, when in a position to be so. and
they not only ask for practically every
thing in sight. but want a few things
thrown in. 1t was the enormous purse
<,ffp RI JafSk Inh n or
Wells. together with a little racial con-
troversy, that caused all the trouble in
England. and now there are number Of
boxers who are demanding sums beyond
all reason in this country. 1t is usually
the case that where boxer is willing to
accept a seventy-five-dollar purse in Janu-
AIRY he will ask seventy-five thousand in
July. should he by any chance happen to
work up into the star class. There is no
doubt that great deal of Jack, john
sons trouble has been brought about
through his excessive demands and the
fact that he wanted everything in sight
nothing. You cannot blame Johnson en-
tirely, for the unsportsmarlike method
was first started by Billy Nolan, Bat
ting Nelson's manager of a few years
ago. The other day ] had an offer from
Hugh ID. Mcintosh. the Australian pro-
moter. for Joe jeanette, the colored box
er. to go over and meet Sam Langford
and Sam McVey. The guarantee was a
would no doubt have Melted him fully
x2o.VO for three matches. 1t was more
money than Jeanette ever dreamed of in
his life and showed the liberality Of the
Australian promoter. but nevertheless
Jeanette and his manager, Dan McKet-
rick, thought they could boost the price a
bit. and asked for paltry 5000. which,
with the expenses, would run up to $780,
90. Instead, they have gone to Paris,
where they will not get as much money,
but will no doubt have easier matches.
Freddy Welsh, the British lightweight,
was also offered substantial guarantee
10 make a trip, but Freddy. like many
others. wanted to boost the price, and
get up near the ffteen-thousand mark.
which the Australian could not see. Fred
dy may yet change his mind. as he has a
hankering to visit the antipodes and go
back to England via India There are
scores of others who are asking Just as
unreasonable sans from boxing clubs,
and that is why high1class matches are
rather scarce these days. The club man.
ayers are afraid to take a chance, and
no one can blame them. The act of john
son in demanding such outrageous sums
IN England had one good effect-it
brought the promoters to their senses,
and they have all agreed in the future TO
offer purses within reason. II the boxers
DO not like this they will have to go with
out the matches Sporting men will not
begrudge good purses to boxers who are
OF high class, but they do like to see
them reasonable. IL is something that
boxers and managers can Study over and
profit by.
The New York boxing Commission is
10 be congratulated on the firm stand il
las taken regarding the boxing game in
that state. If it were TO permit things to
60 along in a lax manner II could be
only a short time when the game there
would be dead, for some of the deals that
have been ATTEMPTED during The few
months that the law has been in force
IT required just the kind of "A commission
that exists in New York state TO keep
things straight and guide some of the
club managers and promoters. 1t In very
plain that no matter how much expert
ence. and sad experience at that these
managers and promoters get, they fail
to profit by it, The commission has not
hesitated TO call boxers who have been
accused of taking. managers who are
mixed up In alleged crooked deals and
promoters who were charged with col
fusion in such deals, and even the ref
erees who We're charged with being al
together tooeeasy with the fighters be-
fore II and reading the riot act proper
1t has threatened TO bar a number OF
boxers, managers and promoters, and the
effect has been very noticeable for there
has been less complaint since the COM
mission has taken drastic action in
these cases The barring of Jack John
son. while 1t may seem unjust to a great
many, was no doubt deemed advisable
by the commission, otherwise Il would
never have taken such action and II wa .