Evening journal., 1915-02-23
WHY IMPORT CORR
TO REFREE match
Boxing Promoters Can Find
Plenty of Good Officials
In L. S. A.
McPORTLAND RANKS
AMONG THE BEST

There is apparently frantic rush
on the part of promoters of boxing
in America to obtain the services as
referee of Eugene Corri. London stock
broker. one of the big wigs of the
National Sporting Club of London,
and who is usually selected as third
man in the ring when an important
boxing contest is held in Merrie Eng
land.
Corri is said 10 have been entreated
TO referee the Willard-Johnson dis
pute at Juarez and it is declared he
is the recipient of loud calls from
Jack McGuigan of Philadelphia. to be
third man in the ring there. 1t is
reported that Hudson, Wis; Akron,
o.. and Butte. Mont are getting up
petitions urging the Briton to come
at once and show American referees
how to judge points in a boxing con-
test.
How the Corri fad started is mys-
terry. for while he is a very amiable
gentleman he has never done any
thing in the ring to warrant any such
hysterical shrieks as some of the
American promoters are sending over
salt water.
AS a plain matter of fact, there are
IN America more good referees than
England ever dreamed of. and many
of the home referees are far superior
to COrri in all the qualifications that
go to make competent official. II
would seem, therefore. that the Amer
ican promoters would do well to pat
ronize home industry and that an em-
oh .tfwr.
importations.
Corri would act as referee merely
for the honor, and thus interfere with
men who earn their living at the bust
ness. Among the men who could 60
into the ring at Juarez or any other
place and acquit themselves with cred
it to themselves and fairness to the
contestants are Kid Mcfarland. Off
cial referee of the Federal A. c.;
Billy Roche. official referee of the
Show Association; George Monroe
formerly bantam boxer of note: Patsy
Haley, official referee of several New
York clubs; Eddie Forbes. noted ref
cree of amateur bouts; Eddie Smith
of Chicago not to speak of severai
men on the coast and in the Middle
West.
Any of the men named would be en-
tirely competent and trustworthy, and
no one in America knows just hoN
competent Corri may be Ritchie and
Cunboat Smith take the negative
while Freddie Welsh and George Car
pentier regard COrri as an ideal third
man in the ring
In substance, America has plenty OF
competent referees. and there is ap-
parently no good reason TO import
Corri. Some day when the National
Sporting Club of London invites sOmc
prominent American referee to ofiici-
ate in a bout in that club it will be
time enough to return the cumpli-
ment and send Tor Mr.. COrri.
Speaking of American referees
bring to mind the gilt-edged work
shown by Kid Mcfarland at the Fed
cral A. c., New York. His perform.
ance has been a revelation to boxing
fans. Not only has he exhibited re.
markable knowledge of the rules,
but he has shown rare quality Of dis
cretion and judgment
The Kid is certainly a fine asse
of the boxing game. In his day Me
Partland was a wonderful boxer, anC
the fact that he was in the ring q
rounds with the sensational Kid La
vigne and was not knocked off hi
pins and did not show a mark indi
Gates a high order of defensive skill
Mcfarland carried a port WALTON tina
spelled sleep. but Lavigne's jaw wal
a bit too hard. While MCFARLAND
never got very close to the title. still
he was in the front ranks all the time
Now that his fighting days are pass
ed he has developed into one of th
best referees ever seen in the ring.