The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-08-27
SLIM CHANCE TO
3. &. PULL OFF FIGHTS
lin Coffroth Thinks There Is
Small Hope Of Reviying Game
In California

Boxing promoters and fight followers
of California take gloomy view of the
future Of the sport. According to Jim
Cofroth there is small prospect of box
inc being restored to the state where so
many championships have changed
hands. Cofforth even expects the game
TO die a natural death in New York and
thereabout for lack of interest, due to
the fact that championship matches
have been practically wiped out.
Coffroth naturally is not inclined to
underrate the Importance of the bouts
he promoted. and the effect they had on
the fortunes of the sport in general.
He undertakes the possibilities of box
ing under the no-decision clause, for
which he processes the utmost seorn.
That interest has fallen Off to some ex-
tent since California raised the bar a
rainst the sport is true, but that has
been the result Of having such uninter-
ostinR champions as Freddy Welsh and
Johnny Kilbane tat the head of two in
portant divisions. e.'A. ..7
That there is a great need of deci-
pions is admitted even by those who
fear the scandal that invariably ensues
when n ring arbiter makes an honest
mistake, as we'll as when he intention
ally Fobs the real winner of a victory
But what is needed even more than de-
cisions is ring hero for fight follow
ers TO worship, just as baseball fans
worship Mathewson, Cobb and Wagner.
Stanley Ketchel was the last real in
teSesting fighter the ring has had
Were he alive today and at the height
Of his form the fact that decisions are
not allowed would in no way lessen the
interest in his battles. The same can he
said Of Bob FitzsimmOns, Terry Me
Govern and scores of others whose
names live in ring history. Those men
were great fighters because they fought
for fighting's sake. II is impossible
TO imagine Fitzsimmons being spoiled
by tho fact that under the no-decisiOn
rule he eould safely stall through ten
rounds without losing his title. He
took too much pride in his work for
anything like that. l.
Lacking in Personality
2 The boxers of today lack personality.
There is little about any of them that
appeals to the imagination. Their con
versation and thoughts are devoted to
money matters exclusively. The sport
ing spirit is entirely absent. This is
not so much the fault of the fighters
themselves. who are gamblers by ma
ture, or they would not have entered
the game in the first place. 1t is the
men who control them who are respon-
sible. Most of the stars are controlled
by b few men who make a business of
managing fighters These fellows care
nothing for the sporting side of boxing
andffthey quickly discourage any ten
deneS in their meal tickets to take a
CHARGE. As a result the boxers are
taught TO hug and wrestle instead Of to
fight in the open and to steer clear Of
oppohents who appear dangerous. The
manager who neglects to demand all
the money in sight when making a
match Is laughed at by the other mem
bers of the clique not Immediately con
eernod in the affair and the fighter is
told that he is a sucker to have a pilot
fRven Ketchel, with all his reckless
Ways that made him a public idol
Wsnld soon have his carefree spirit
subdued if he were alive today and a
member of a modern manager s string