The Washington times., 1915-12-07

Previous 10 the hreakinS out OF the
war and when boxing was fourishing
in France, the Federation of Boxing
Of that country did not consider it
had done its duty II a day elapsed
and no boxer had received from that
organization n diamond studded belt.
erblematic OF the championship Of
the world. 1t did net make any diff
ference il the recipient OF the belt
had no Just claim to the title in ques-
ton. That was minor considera-
tion. The major question was that
absolutely required a cham
rionship belt. and the FIRST boxer to
show his head to the federation re-
ceived the trophy.
Eilly Papkc, after a decision over
Carpenter, received one of the cham
pionsh p belts. although Papke had
no right to the title OF worlds mid
dleweight champion. Frank Klaus
had the American title all tucked
away in his valise when he started
burgher defeated papke and Carper-
tier one after The other ne made him
self the middlewcight champion of the
world: strangely enough. the fedora
tion did not give Klaus a belt, al
tthough ne was entirely worthy Of the
honor.
..ater on, when Jeff Smith had beat
en- few mediocre French middle
WelSh,s' the federation produced an
other championship belt. and handed
II TO the blushing Bryonne boxer. The
Iedcration was preparing to order a
ton OF belts when the war put an end
10 the enterprise.
or course. none of the belts had ary
slsnincance whatever. and were merely
souvenirs or the occasions. The French
rederation had no authority to name
worlds champions. nor to issue belts as
cnrtllicates of championship qualities.
The French Federation had a perfect
risht 10 iSsu" belts to French cham
pions. because the championship. event 9
in France are under the Jurisdiction of
the Federation. the same as the cham
pionship bouts in England are under the
Jurisdiction of the National Sporting
Club OF London. Therefore, when the
pody IN control OF boxing in any, coun-
Try assumes to name a worlds Cham
pion and confer belt emblematic OF
the title, it exceeds its authority to a
painful degree.
so far as the French federation Is
concerned, its action in the premises
was due entirely to Ignorance of the
proper and Just procedure.
But what shall be said of the Ameri-
can BoKing Association. recently or
Ranized in this country. composed OF
i'N'' S''pOSruiN "lSt III TIE Ol
tho roped square. who fall into the
same silly error as the French Fedora.
ton?
One OF the first acts OF the American
Boxing Association was to solemnly de
clare that Jack Dillon is the light
heavyweight champion OF the world!
In view of the fact that Dillon never
boxed on foreign soil. and never In his
ltfc defeated the holder OF a foreign
title. the action of the A. b. A. in de
clarinE him to be the worlds cham
pioE of the class is difficult to account
for, II is. of course. a direct affron
to the heavyweight champion;
Of England. France. and Australia, whc
have never had the honor of meetinf
Dillon I'm the ring. 1t Is not unlikely tha
Dillon might beat the light-heavyweigh
champions of England and Australia
but how about CARPENTER. who holds
the French title in that class? Dillon
might have some trouble with tht
Frcnchman.
At the same time. it Is not for thf
A. b. A. or any other organization Il
assume that because a boxer has showr
superiority over the other men in hi:
class in his own country that he mus
necessarily he the master of the mel
in the same class in foreign countries
And for q national organization con
| trolling boxing in one country to as
| sumo to confer worlds championships
on any boxer Is not only impeFtinent
' but pitifully Illogical.
Jack Dillon is a great fighter snt