Evening star., 1912-09-15
BY T. S. ANDREWS.
MILWAUk EE, Wis.

"
September Il, 1912.
Is the boxing game becoming more
popular throughout the country? From
the manner III which some Of the star
boxers are received by the citizens OF
their home towns after making a success
full fight II would seem that the game
has the approval OF thousands OF people
who arc otherwise always supposed to be
opposed 10 it. There is no athletic hero
who receives greater recognition than the
successful boxer Even the successful
American athletes at the olympic games
in Sweden did not receive greater
ovation on their return home than was
arranged by thousands of citizens of New
Orleans for Little Joe Mandot on his
return from Los Angeles. after defeating
the Mexican Hghtweight-Jose Rivers.
Mandot is a great favorite in the south,
both in New Orleans and Memphis. the
latter his adopted home He is of tTench
rarentage and the people of that nation
ality. besides thousands of others, nave
gone daffy over him, and now look upon
him as the boy to take the crown away
from Ad Wolgast Not only men and
boys are lavishing praise on Little Joe,
but the women as well. when Mike Gid
bons, the st. Paul middleweight. made
such a successful tour of the east ana de-
feated all the men he met there he was
given an ovation on his return home last
spring, even the mayor joining IN WIN
many of the council members. II Mike
had been Teddy Roosevelts right-hand
man he would not have been given half
the reception that he received for being
Mike Gibbons. the great boxer. They
had big line of marchers for Mike. and
burned red fire to beat the band. and If
Mike wanted to run for mayor the
chances are he would be elected
The residents of Hammond. Ind, gave
Jimmy Clabby q wonderful reception upon
his return home from Australia, after hav-
ing won the highest boxing honors abroad,
Jimmy was so tickled that he said after
ward: Gee. if l had been President OF
the L. $. A. they could not have made
il stronger" Bombardier Wells, the Brit
ish heavyweight, was given similar re-
ception his return 10 England after
knocking out Tom Kennedy in New York,
even though he had previously been
beaten by Al Palzer. 1t has been the
same all along the line OF late, Wh1ch
goes to show that there must be very
strong sentiment in favor of the sport,
even with all the knocking it receives A
big fight between champions will create
more interest in all parts OF the country
than a war between foreign countries. or
even where the states are interested. The
people are gradually beginning to real
ize that boxing of today is scientihc ana
q splendid sport. and not of the same
brand that was handed out half CEN
fighting in every sense: where the men
fought with bare knuckles until one was
completely knocked out Those days have
passed. and in its place is the real sport
of boxing. which is builder up of the
Young men of the country The fact that
the Olympic games committee has taken
up boxing is proof of it's popularity and
worth.
During the past few months there have
been reports that the French Federation
Of Boxing had been busy revising the
Marquis of Queensbury boxing rules and
that some good results might he attained
There have been some novelties In the
changes made by the French federation.
hut not of the nature expected. The al
teTations. az given out In the Dulletln
issued recently. are really startling as
far as novelties are concerned, and IN
stead of making the rules simple and ex-
pIicit. the are really confusing. They
will never do for the American boxing
fraternity, nor the English authorities
either
TO begin with where matches are
made at weight, the boxers will be re-
euired to scale naked. Notwithstanding
that some m2y be able to make the
required weight with their clothes on
The new regulation requiring men to
weigh in at IL o'clock in the morning
is a bit farcical. seeing that the majority
of the big bouts are not staged until
1890 or IL o'clock in the evening.
Imagine Mcfarland making 13S pounds
at 1880 o'clock in the morning with
an opponent who is normally that
weight at any time. But the federation
puts the lid on the matter with a fur
ther clause which stipulates that If
either or both of the contestants should
be over weight at the time of weighing
in the men must be reweighed at s
O'Clock in the evening. Another gem
in this precious set Of rules is one
stating that for a championship con-
test the number of rounds may be any
thing from ten to twenty rounds.
Imagine a title changing hands on a
ten-round bout.
The federation further refuses to al
low English referees for championship
contests, and if any are insisted upon
ny French or English boxers the fedora
tion reserves the right to appoint an
additional official from it's own staff.
Another item in this budget of clauses
is one that provides for a champion
undergoing his term Of military service.
The title holder is to he permitted to
retain his title but must also defend
the same when called upon. This clause
is more than usually ridiculous. because
the French war office regulations pro-
hibit any soldier from taking part in a
public contest for money.
One OF the most ridiculous statements
ever handed TO the press about American
boxers and their treatment in Australia
was given publicity the other day in a
statement emanating from Jim Barry. the
heavyweight. who recently returned 10
this country after having had several
bouts IN Australia. Barry stated that
Sam 1.angford and Sam Mcvea were held
prisoners In that country and that they
could not leave until Hugh Mcintosh was
good and ready TO let them go, citing an
Australian law regarding colored men as
a basis for the article He said the pro-
moter had To put up a 81 600 bond that
the colored men would stay six months
and that II he renewed the bond the men
could not leave until he said the word
Imagine Joe Woodman, manager OF
Samuel Langford hanging around sydney
lust for fun With Sam doing nothing!
Why Joe would have the United States