Evening star., 1914-12-27
NEW YORK..
Boxers Fortunate
in a Good Year

The year 1914 has been a remarkable
one for boxing and had it not been
for the European war starting last
August 1t would have been the great
est year the sport has ever known. In
years gone by the sport was confined
mostly to Great Britain, America and
Australia, but within the past five years
boxing has taken such a hold In France
and some other European countries.
with 1914 as the banner year of all.
that ,the outlook for the future was
most promising; indeed, 1t is most
promising.
have been thousands of boxing con-
tests held In the United States. Aus
tralia and Europe. In the states II
is estimated that an average of 100
shows were held each month. which.
counting four contests to each show
(the windup and three prelimtnaries) }.
would mean 400 bouts every month.
or a total of about 4,s00 for the year.
In Australia the number Is estimated
at twenty every week, which would
total l.o4o for the year. In England
and France 1t is a fair estimate to
place the number at about seventy
five each week. or about $500 for the
year, bringing the grand total of con-
tests up to 9.740 for the entire year.
This gives the public an idea of the
the boxing game despite the efforts
in many localities to kill the sport.
One of the hardest blows the game
has received In a long time was the
recall of the boxing measures in Calf
fornia. The Golden state had been
the home of boxing for many years.
the place where championships were
held without interference and where
many champions were developed. From
what can be learned of the recall on
the Pacific coast there was general
misunderstanding regarding the meas
ure. The people voting on the mat
ter did not thoroughly understand 1t
and it is claimed that many voted
against II who really wanted to
vote for II.
OF course. 1t is too late to kick now
and the matter will have to be taken
up again and voted on. but II win be
harder now to again pass a bill legal
izing the sport, unless 1t Is under the
new plan Of the boxing commission.
In losing the state OF Califorta to
boxing Cthat Is, big bouts, for II Is un-
derstood the authorities will permit
linn ted round contests1 the ,s sport
Iature passing a bill legalizing twenty
round contests, which is the same as
California had. In Wisconsin and New
York states. where the commissioh
plan prevails. the sport has been con-
Quoted on very successful basis. In
Wisconsin the clubs paid over to the
state treasury over $4,000 for the
year. and as the limit of expenditures
Is $4,000, there was left to the state
a clear profit Of nearly $4,000. Many
large cities have followed the sport
In the Badger state and have appoint
ed commissions to handle the game.
The sport is handled In this way In
such cities as Philadelphia fact, all
large cities In Pennsylvania: Cincin-
natl, Columbus Denver and now
Cleveland has taken to the plan.
What the boxing game needs most
of ali is a national organization, SINH
lar to the Amateur Athletic Union.
with branches throughout the coun-
try, so that 1t can fght tor its rights
AGAINST the "tenderfeet." who seem to
have one object In life-that of trying
to kill tho sport.
Two champions who held forth IN
1918 are still carrying their crowns about
Johnny Kilbane and Jack Johnson