Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-11-19
REFEREES TOO
LAX IN CALL
OF FOUL BLOW

The knockout of Freddy Welch. the
English lightweight champion, by
Milbourn Sayler, an Indianapolis box
sF, in the ring of Winnipeg. Man.
club, few days ago, calls to mind
the reluctance Of referees to enforce
the rules against fouling, and which,
II allowed to continue, will become
q positive menace to the boxing game.
The blow that finished Weleh, &C
cording 10 the newspaper accounts,
was a stiff one and landed in the
groin, causing him much pain. AL,
though he was unable to respond to.
the call of time, Freddy was at cded
the decision on a foul by the referee,
and rightly so. The Englishman is
regarded as one Of the cIeverest box
ers in the rfnt .C<ay, and there are
few who follow boxing who would re-
gard Saylor as his superior.
But to get to the point. The mat
ter of fouling has now reached a stage
where it should be- thrashed out on
broader grounds than the individual
interests OF any one boxer, referee or
club. -,.'< Il
a Serious Feattle e.
One of the most serious features of.
the ncn-observance Of the rules 81
that II is liable to, develop in ring GO
ers a spirit of unfairness. One of the
blacklist marks boxing has suffered
of late was the hooting Of Gunboat3
Smith, who yesterday proved his
worth by getting decision over Sam
Langford in IL rounds, by the hood
lum element in New York, after he
had been rendered helpless by the
foul blows of Carl Morris during
their recent engagement To those
who have participated in boxing bouts
and love the game for its own sake,
1T created feeling of intense disgust, 4
and, for once, the alleged reformers,
who are constantly Directing to what
they do not understand, had some
ground for complaint. T. "a
There are some persons so consti-
tuted that they tare unable to see
more than their own selfish side of a
question They have no sympathy for
q boxer, no matter how badly Injured
be may be, sff he depriyes them OF
seeing d few additional rounds The
referees and clubs are panaering sto1
this element. But unless the fefereesi
are forced to q more strict observance
OF the rules boxing will be killed be
fore long. z g. = fYs
Referees Are Wrong. sss:&sss
Referees have been known to per.
NIT a boxer who has been fouled to !
continue after he has had a little rest,
and II this is not puttingsa premium
on fouling It is dangerously near 1t.
ring after being fouled the inevitable
cry arises that he quit. .. But any
one who has experienced even q light
blow in the groin knows that it robs
the recipient of his strength, although |
be may still, be able to stand on his |
feet. Why should he be expected toll
run the risk of being knocked out |
when rendered helpless in this man |
Der? In any other game, such as base.
ball, the rules are followed to the let. |
ter. Why make an exception to box.
ing?
Common sense dictates that it is |
thousand times more necessary to OBJ |
serve the rules of fair play in boxing |
than Is the case in other sports. A
low blow not only robs the recipient
Of his chance to win, but it may in
jure him for life as we'll On the face I
IF it, this is so apparent that it seems
foolish to mention the fact.
Let all referees and club owners
take lesson from the knockout of
lightweight champion and
act as the referee of this bout had /
he courage to act.