Evening star., 1913-06-22

EfX S&$2#A ttCItltu i'll y e W
York state. Mr..
O'Neil has realized for long time that
the .'decisionless' bout is knock 20 the
sport. and hopes to revive interest in the
grand old game by restoring 10 the arbi-
ters the privilege of naming the winners
In future events. He has learned by ex-
peFienCe that the so-called popular ver-
dict is anything but what its name i'm
plies with the people who foot the bills
and in these days of cOmmeTciaism in
sport that is one big item the commits
sioners can hardly afford to overlook.
The arguments of the knockers that de-
ciSfons promote gambling and should be
tabooed accordingly would be given n
fair test under the proposed system. II
II develops that the gambling element is
any more active than under the rules in
vogue at present ii will be time enough
for those who have been active in their
opposition 10 return to regular
Queensbury methods TO open up with
their verbal broadsides: il will be only
fair. however. to await the popular recep-
ton of the new deal.
For several months past the boxing
game has suffered from big falling off
in patronage. Few. if any. promoters
have made money the past year This
is surprising in New York. especially
during the cold months. and those in
terested in a financial way have been
trying to trace the cause OF the slump.
Evidently they have decided that popular
interest can be revived by Il return TO
methods which have in the past con-
tributed a great deal to the success of
the game from promoters viewpoint.
which. L imagine, has something to do
with Mr.. O'Neils proposal to permit de-
cisions-if he can bring his TWO associates
on the commission to his way OF think
ing.
There IS no doubt that the decision
less bout has injured the sport locally,
and that a rule giving referees authority
TO render verdicts will help boxing a
great deal At the same time those who
are most anxious to stimulate public in
terest-the promoters-need look for little
Increase in box office receipts while they
continue to deal out the same quality of
bouts that they have programmed the
past season. The best way. and the
quickest they will find TO revive interest
Will be TO furnish better class of enter
tainmen:. BY bringing the bes: material
to be obtained to New York and eXerciS-
VIII discover that New Workers have
not only not lost interest in boxing. bu,
that they will pay literally for what ap-
peaiS TO their liking in that line.
New York is the best boxing city in the
world. bar none. but the fans will not
patroniZe inferior or unequal matches
= The sooner the Gibsons, McMahons and
other leading promoters learn this lesson
ers and promoters
! have long been a booster for a re-
turn 10 decisions in boxing matches in
New York. a my readers well know and
Tor that matter have always been at a
ioss to figure the objection to them. 4
referees decision is no more likely 10 en-
courage gambling than umpires ruling
AZ q ba game To tie average fight en-
thgsiast the question of winner and loser
is quite as important as il is to Il base
ball fan. The secret of the popular sucL
cess OF sports o. any sort lies in the COM
petition for superiority. and in any game
where that important detail is left TO the
Imagination the interest is naturally
bound TO slump
So far as betting is concerned a ma
iority of sport lovers believe ''money
talks" whether ii refers to a question of
superiority in boxing. base ball or any
nthes game. Men who like contests of
skill viii wager VIXEN they feel so dis
posed. law or no law. and under the
popular newspaper" decision plan
there is always Il chance for arguments
and disputes over boxing matches which
would be quite impossible under the ref
eref system.
II has taken q long time for those in
control to arrive at the sensible conclu-
sion that reforms are needed in the man
Ter Of conducting the sport in tliS state
y big mistake was made in the first place
by eX-Gov. DIX in placing men OF no eX-
perience in professional boxing on the
commission. The law has many pro-
visions which require the knowledge of
men who have been allied with profess
sional sports TO determine and enforce.
However. Mr.. ONeiTS tardy announce
nent that reforms are necessary should
cause us to rejoice in the knowledge
that al least one member of the com
mission has n last begun to sit UP and
take notice Of the needs Of the sport.
y rule authorizing decisions will help
largely to renew popular interest; ii is
up 10 the matchmakerS TO do the rest
Mike Gibbons can hit. Several lcca
critics viii insist that the St. Paul man
does not carry the walop, but from The
manner IN which ne disposed of Young
Nhearn last week al Madison Square
Gardens there ! no question about N
punch. II al depends with the clever
Gibbons whether the fellow he is opposed
tc Ean hit hard or not. IF he can. Mike
don't take many chances and as result
doesa'tBput as much force into his wal
lops as when set for a slam. In the boul
'le other night Nike discovered earIy
there was little sting to Nhearns blows
and what ne did 10 the local man after
mat was plcnty-and then some
II was Gibbons refusal to mix it W
With Eddie NcGoorty that cost him ths
popular verdict last fall Tn that batt.
McGoorty was not himself at all fand
rather fancy he has never fully recovered
from the severe strain of training Il
make weight that occasion to judge
from his mediocre performances of late)
But 70 get back 10 my story Gibbon,
ought to have won that fight hand.
down. He had the speed. the cleverness
and I think. the strength. But Mike.
bump OF caution is not lacking in devel
opnlent. and that's the answer
] doubt if there is a middleweight II
the game at present who could win de
-.