El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-01


MI was generally expected by fol-
L i lowers Of boxing that the game
would receive a knockout blow for
some time as a result Of the world war,
but the reverse seems TO be the case
Not only has boxing been kept up in
England, but il has been taken up IN
the neutral country OF Denmark and
the Erenchmen are endeavorlng to re-
viVe interest in the sport In that coun-
try All this is being done for box
ing, while other sports have been side
tracked Even the royal family in the
British Isles has attended contests.
Reports from abroad have il that the
German soldiers have taken a liking
10 the sport where they have had
chance to see IL and in some cases in
dulge in il. so that 1t viii not be sur
prising to find Germany added TO those
countries which favor boxing, when
the war ends
Austria was taking up the sport be-
fore the war, boxing contests having
been frequent in Vienna and other big
cities The following letter Just re-
ceived from a friend in London shows
how things fistic are progressing on
the other side:
1T looked for a time over here as
though the sport would be shot to
pieces, but not So King George early
last year patrOnized d boxing show
run BY the officers Of the Royal Horse
Guards and this week he further
showed his interest in the sport BY
giving permission for a boxing tour
ney to be held at WinSsOr Castle. This
is the first time in the history Of the
sport that boxing contests have been
decided within the precincts Of the
ancient royal residence.
Army Gets Anything.
TT is a curious <@ct that while the
faddists are shouting their heads off
for nearly everything in the way of
sport and amusement to be stopped
during the war. boxing alone Las es-
capped Football cricket, hockey, Ia
crosse and even the movies have come
under their ban, yet boxing, which q
snort while ago was dubbed immoral
and degrading, is now glorified and
encouraged. Probably il is because the
game is so popular with the soldiers
that II is receiving so much outside
support Anything that pleases the
army is sure OF encouragement these
days. Municipal halls are Willingly
loaned TO the troops to decide boxing
bouts in and in many cases the shows
arc patronized by the local mayors
and councillors That the game WlI
benefit when the war ends is certain.
The former opponents of the sport can
scarcely revive their antagonism and 1
can fOreSee q greater expansion of the
sport in all parts Of Europe, including
Germany, than ever the most Optimis-
tic critic imagined
Very Little Money Wagered.
All the talk going the rounds about
how much money was gobbled up by
Johnson's friends in the states on the
big battle at Havana can be put down
as mostly bunk" From talks with
men who follow the boxing game IN
various cities in the couI il is
learned that very little coin was wag-
cred on the fight-probably not $50
600 all told, through the country If
the Chicago friends, among them ne
gro supporters, bet the other way.
they must have been outside of the
city to place their money, for accord
ing TO all dope there was no Letting
or any account about the levee. Close
friends Of johnson in Milwaukee
negrOes-whO were usually well in
formed as to how Jack was feeling
ETC. had no notice to take a chance on
Big Jess, neither did the negroes who
were right in his camp. for II is a
well known fact that none OF them
had bets on Johnson. There was one
man in the Johnson camp who placed
a small bet on Willard and that was
steamboat BIZ Scott and he did not
DO II from his own inclination or any
tip from headquarters, but from talks
with the writer's from the north.
Bill told me just before the fight
that he thought Johnson would win
but when he heard Jim Savage and
walter Monohan tell about the grand
condition Of Jess and what he coud
take IN the way of punishment
Steamboat" Bill hedged and bet SIS
On the Wlllte man. Even sam McNey.
the negro heavyweight, who was very
close with Johnson and visited with
him at his home most every day was
sure Jack would win and so advised
his manager, George Lawrence. but
the latter did not DO any betting aside
from a few small ones.
And Jones Was Flat"
There was one man who wanted to
back Willard and who felt certain he
would win and that man was Tom
Jones, manager Of Big Jess. but un-
fortunately Toms bank roll was not
large enough TO permit him to place
any large amount Tom could not SEQ
II any other way and was willing to
risk his last penny. He did scraDe to-
gether $500 and tried to place the
money, but could not do so in the CITY
% Havana, the feeling being so strong
there for Willard The writer tried
to place the bet for Jones by cable TO
friends in New Orleans, but not over