The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-14
NEED COMMISSION
TO PROD BOXERS
National Supervising Body
Would End Disposition
to Dilly-D Daily.
Ey Farren

greatest needs in American sportdom
today is the creation of a national
boxing commission with full super
vision over every fighter and every
fight club in the country; Il commits
sion empowered to fix the weights for
the different divisions, and one thai
would compel champions TO nee men
of their w class at regular intervals
in defense of their titles.
The American sporting public ia
disguised with the tactics pursued by
the champions in the past few years:
Disguised because instead of meeting
men who can give them a real bat
tie in a long bout they take on fight
crs of the second and third class. or
when finally forced into a match with
a t~op-notcher, they endeavor to have
the fight staged in some state where
no decision bouts are the rule.
The difference between the cham
piOns of today and those of twenty
years ago is as great the difference
bewteen New Zealand and Siberia. Tn
the old days when a man punched his
way. into the championship he stood
ready to meet amy man that wanted
to battle with hilm-and ready almost
at n moments notice.
Usual Method.
But nowadays, when Il pusilistic
person reaches the crest he suddenly
declares that he is wor out, tagged
and very very tired. Immediately
after the fight he decides to rest up"
month or two. Then he grabs off. u
vaudeville engagement, or. two or
three engagements. if that many are
offered him.
After he has ceased to be an attrac-
ton on the stage and the clamor on
the part of the public for him to fight
con so strong that 1t threatens
to fracture his ear drums, he looks
around for Il lemon" makes a match
with him, and, a can be expected.
simply makes a punching bag out of
the poor boob.
In time, to silence the renewed calls
champion takes on a man Who stands
near the top in his class, but aims
to have the bout staged in states like
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
others where decisions are not per-
mitted The champion also names the
weight at which he will fight, paying
his division. The weight he names is
the weight thai suits him best.
Richie Sidesteps.
Willie Richie, light weight cham
pion, is n of the best examples of
the need of a boxing commission.
Richie won the title from Ad VOL.
CAST on a foul on Nov. %, 1912. Since
that time-fourteen months-Ritchte
has fought but twice. His first bat
tie as a champion was against Joe
Rivers, an in and outer, and his Sec
ond battle vas with Leach Cross i'm
New York, where no decisions are
permitted.
Ritchie was matched to meet Fred.
NE Welsh n of the best men in his
Of the match. Later, because the pub
nc demanded it, he signed up to meet
Tommy Murphy of New York, regards
ed by many as Ritchie's superior, On
the eve OF the bout Richie discovered
that something was wrong with his
sneezing apparatus and called off the
match. He was rematched, and
again on the eve Of the battle discoy-
cred ne had some other ailment and
once again cancelled the bout.
Kilbane q Dodger.
Since Johnny Kilbane. feather.
weight champion, has been wearing
the crown he has been quite careful
ABOUT meeting any real foes in states
where decisions were given. Johnny
a been accused Of being the best
little lemon picker" in the business
ents. for the most part, battlers who
are not in his class.
kllpane did anger the pIblic'e plea
n battle with Johnny Dundee Of
ne" YORK, his most dangerous rival,
IN q twenty-round bout 0 the coast.
It was called . draw. although many
thought Dundee had q slight shade,
The featherweight limit . l22. but
ktlbane has carried about 126 pound1
in most Of his battles since he beat
Attell; The lishtweight limit IL 1a3.
put Richie has beamed around 136
to 1877 in his i've fights since no won
from Wolgast.
A national boxing commission could
compel a fighter to defend his title at
the leEitimate division weight, under
penalty of FORGETTING the title. Il
could compel a champion to meet q
man in his own class every six month";
or oftener. and it could prevent CHAM
pions, K Richie, from ducking out
The boxing game in this co,,n.r,
has grown to such proportions that 4
needs g governing body; it needs some
of chaos and to compel firhters
70 furnish the public what it demands.
ana What 1t nays its money for-rcai
0knt9 with real fOoa at-HEEs S