The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-01
Freddie WeIsh's Manager Says Not
Desirabie for Ten Round Bouts
In the State Of New
York.
OTHER MANAGERS KICK
Champions Fear to Take Chance on
Decision Fights Would Break
up Their Golden
Treasury.

There Is great diversity Of opinion
among boxing adherents in New YORK
as to the advisibility OF allowing rel
eree's decisions in ten-round bouts IN
the Empire state. The general rs,n
of fandom appears to be decidedly in
favor OF revising the laws governing
boxing so as to permit of official YER
diets. while those better yersed IN
boxing lore are just as decided
against amending the Frawley law to
legalize decisions.
From one quarter in particular.
there is. concerted cry against en-
powering the referee to render an Of
fetal verdict. That quarter is con-
stituted of champions and near cham
pions in the various divisions. Espe-
cially antagonistic against the move
ment is Freddie Welsh. the light
weight champion, and his mentor.
Harry Pollok.
As Kelsh is at present enjoying a
protracted siesta in California. it de-
wolves upon Handsome Harry" to
express Welsh's sentiments and those
of his own, in the matter. says Har-
cid:
If decisions are made legal In New
York state. | can guarantee you that
no champions will appear before New
York audiences until the law is re-
yised to its present status. What
champion | ask you, will take a
chance with his title in ten-round
bout with their titles at stake? Nay,
sponsible for the wrong action OF a
referee in case title changes hands
on his unfair ruling. whether 1t Is
made honestly or with malice afore-
thought?
"One thing can assure you Of:
Welsh will not rake part in any bouts
in New York if decisions are Permit.
ted. Do you think any Of the other
champions -Williams Kilbane or Will.
lard-would take chance in short
bout with their titles at stake? Nay,
nay. yen cannot convince me tina.
they will. for am sure they all will.
look upon. the new order IN the samo
light as Freddie does"
Is Good Logic.
There Is q heap of logic in what
Pollok says, but 1t must not be for
gotten that he is talking from the
viewpoint of manager who has a
worlds champion in tow Welsh's
earning powers depend wholly upon
the fact that he is the worlds und1s-
ruted lightweight champion. Were
Freddie Welsh merely Freddie Welsh,
with no titular attachments, it is I'M
likely that he would receive one-tenth
the sums he is now receiving as his
share for fighting no-decision battles.
\ title covers a multitude of indif-
ferent ashts, and it is only because
Freddie is the champion that the fans
tolerate him. He occupies much the
same position in the boxing realn,
here that does Leach Cross; people
turn out il dFoyes to see him perform.
hoping that they will be among those
present when he is knocked out. Here
the psychological aspect enters the
game.
It is hard to imagine that even Jess
Willard would take = chance with his
newly acquired title in ten round de
cision bout here. despite the fact that
he is supreme in the heavyweight di
vision. We car readily III terstand
Welsh's attitude, for there are fully
half a dozen Egthweights that could
gain the referees decision over him
in limited round contest
May BE Given Trial.
It may. be the decisions will be Civ
/ en- trial in a few weeks. Another
possibility is that an official verdict
will be rendered in the Packey Nc
Farland-N.ke Gibbons affray two
weeks hence. A decision would in
sure good fight in this case, because
no championship is at stake. Boil
men are natural enemies and a deci
! sion over his rival would enrapture
/ the victor 20 the extent that he would
/, be almost willing to spurn the mon.
| tary compensation. Yes. we are quit;
sure that If Packey knew he woult
gain the referees decision over Mike
! Gibbons. to 90 down in the recorS
book as an undisputcd triumph, III
/ wouid forego the s1T.50o. or whatevel
sum he Is to receive for his labors
And by the same token, the identica
thing holds with Gibbons, If he coulC
but be cerssin OF a decision over ti'
once mighty MacFarland.
! AS Governor Whitman has an
nounced his rnwiilingness to appoin
new supervising boxing commissio,
until the fiscal year begins on Octohs
/ i. VIXEN On appropriation win be mad :
! it is within the bounds OF possibilit-
that the present solons win eyperi
nent with one or .two-decisfon bouts
/ The Mcfarland. Gibbons bout is on
OF them, although the articles do no
stipulate that an official decision b
rendered. However. If decisions pre-
vail. they will have to fight with tina
understanding or pass up the chanc
of splitting that $4,000.
|
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