The Washington herald., 1914-04-11
ny ANDREW p. o'ooSoR..

Jim Griffin, the Frisco referee, who
oficiated in the match between Leo
Houok and Billy Murray, In which the
latter was declared the winner IN the
fourteenth round. while Houck was on
his toes and boxing with vim and vigor,
Is coming In for most unmerciful pan
ming from California sportsmen. Since
he declared the Billy Murray-Jim Clabby
contest q draw, when the latter had ap-
parently won by country block
the anvil chorus Is again active. Box
ing experts. writing In the, Chronicle.
Examiner, Bulletin and Call, accord the
honors TO Clabby.
II Grimm is retained by Coffroth, It
will be difficult for him to induce boxers
of championship caliber to appear at his
club; at least that il the opinion OF box
ing enthusiasts In San Francisco, with
whom We are in touch.
The one-punch victory of Al Mccoy,
over George Chip. Is similar to one which
was landed by Jack Mccormick on Kid
Mccoy. when the latter was at the
height of his fame. A second meeting
was speedily arranged between them and
Mccoy redeemed himself with a few
well-directed smashes, which proved that
McCormick's blow was accidental.
Sporting writer's are all worked up over
the new champion 90, Mccoy, and many
of them pronounce his feat as being the
most wonderful in the history OF pugil
ism, which Is accounted for by the fact
that their experience with boxers and
boxing has been confined to the ten
round affairs with pudding bags" in New
York.
Thara have % hot
between great fighters which have termi-
mated with a few punches. Among the
most important was the championship
battle between Harry Gilmore, light
weight champion of Canada, and Billy
Myer, ''the Streator cyclone" Gilmore
was knocked out with the only punch de-
livered, which was in the first minute of
the first round.
Bob Fitzsimmons knocked out Peter
Maher down near the Mexican border in
one round.
Terry McGovern whipped PedIar Palmer
for the bantam-weight championship with
a few punches. and lost to Billy Rothwell
(young CorbetO in less than five minutes.
Joe Cans knocked out Frank Erne for
the championship In less than three min
utes of actual fighting.
The new style of boxing is responsible
for quick action in the arena.
In the old days. when small gloves were
used, boxers were forced to hit straiga.
in order TO protect their hands
Under the present system large gloves
are used. which protect the boXers's
hands and permits swinging without dan
ger of having them injured. all of which
accounts for the rapid rise and fall of
so many boxers. whose regulations are
made and lost with wild swings.
In the old days. it required years of
actual experience to enable a fighter to
gain recognition; all matches were for
stakes, with gate receipts as a side
issue, and in order to secure matches,
fighters were obliged to have hackers,
who would bet on their chances. Elimina-
ton contests took place in cellars, barns,
or other places which were safe from
public view. Strong, rugged men were
hired to fight the prospect" who was
severely tried out with bare knuckles
If, after a dozen such trials. the fighter
showed fighting class. his hacker sought
stake matches for him, and in his chal-
lenges, he usually barred the cham
pion' until his protege had proven his
quality.
Thus, it will be seen by an examina-
ton of the records, when a fighter in
those days acquired a title, there was no
such thing as a fiuke; he was really and