The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-14
What Is a Prize Fl iqht?
BY WILLARD BEAN.

Prize fighting. in the generally ac-
cepted term, originated in the rural
districts of England. and gradually
spread TO the more thickly settled dis
tr,cts, All kinds of wrestling, slugging
and rough house tactics were resorted
to to gain an advantage by the differ
emit contestants. 1t was survival of
the fittest from a brute standpoint, n
slightly modified gladitorial stunt, us.
ing natures weapons only
1t was against such brutal and cruel.
ling contests that the English legislators
took action. but as the sport had
gained quite footholj some prominent
men undertook to save it by draft
ing set of rules known as the London
prize ring rules. The contests under
these rules were with bare knuckles, a
knock down or fall determining round
and the contest ended when one man,
or both. was battered to n pulp, or
rendered helpless. But the rules didn t
seem to eliminate the brutality of
the sport. hence there were still pro-
tests from the better class of citizens
1t was while the sport was still in
ats crude and embryo stage of develop
ment that the Marquis Of QueensberTy
saw tho possibility of developing a
scientific and practical field Of sport,
and accordingly drafted set of rules
known as the Marquis of Queeusberry
rules. which, if properly enforced,
eliminate most Of the brutal and often
sive clements. The first rule reads:
1t must be fair stand.up
boxing match (not prize fghtj,
with fair-sized gloves (not bare
knucklcs) in 24-foot enclosure.
No holding, wrestling or rough
tactics allowed, and rounds to be
of three minutes duration, with
one minute rest. etc.
The Queensbcrry rules were put to
legal test in 1890, when Billy Madden
took the Efhuman freight car,' Joe Nc
Auliffe, 200 pounds, to England to
box Frank Slavin. The authorities
classed the match as prize fight,
which would result in a breach Of the
British law. and the contestants were
arrested. But after diligeut search
on the part Of Sir Peter Edlin, the
crown counsel, the judge was ordered
to discharge the men on the ground
that contest governed by the Queens
berry rules was not prize-6ght, as
outlined by the British law, There
has been no interference since, but, on
the contrary. it is not only tolerated,
but encouraged by the nobility, the
London Sporting club being a sort of
evening dress organization.
When bare knuckle contests were IN
troduced into America the eastern
states. Ike the mother country, passed
laws against prize-fighting (then bare |
knuckle sport). and the western states
copied, If not In letter, In spirit, the |
laws of the eastern states covering
Drize-6ghting, the object being to pro
hibit bare knuckle or London prize ring
fights. Our laws 10 not cover skillful |
boxing contests with padded gloves,
But we must all admit that the
Queensberry code is moro strictly en-
forced in England than in America, and
as result the sport is kept cleaner |
The referee docs most of his work from |
outside the rng. and his word of com
mand or motion of the hand is law.
In England wrestling is separated |
from boxing. ami the fans dislike TO see |
hugging matches under the guise OF /,
boxing matches. Wrestling is not box
ing and boxing is not prIze'fghting, ac-
cording TO the laws where the sport
originated. In America, Of recent years,
we have been too ready to ,dolize a |
type of boxer (?) whom nature has
endowed with more than his share of |
animal tenacity and an insuficiency of
gray matter. who lowers his head aud |
ing on some of them to land in the |
vicinity of his opponent. The only ap-
parent use for his head is to butt An
opponent.
II we were 20 relegate boys who in
s,st on butting, wrestling and rough |
house tactics to the scrap heap, AMI en-
courage those who employ clean, gentle.
manly tactics and use generalship in |
their work. il would raise the standard |
very materially IT was a wise move
on the part of the city administration
10 appoint boxing committee to regu-
late boxing and kindred sports, so that
when boy begins rough-house tactics,
warn him TO change his ways. and if be
knows no other tactics, then disqualify
him.
1t is within the power of the amateur
tournament committee 10 place boxing
on high plane during the coming state
meet. When science and art is thrown
70 the four winds AMI bout re-
vsrts into an aimless, wild slugging
match they can warn them thus pIac~