El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-10
BY t. :. ANDREWS.

vAvANA. Cuba. April 1O.-Cuba
II may be added to the countries
Il = where boxing is popular. When
the Americans occupied the island and
overthrow the rule Of Spain about Is
years ago, the Yankee boys introduced
the art Of self defence. but the sport
at that time was enjoyed by the Amer
leans almost exclusively Then the
American government passed a law
prohibiting fighting and for numb Der
OF years tire was nothing doing in the
boxing line The Cuban government
took a very different view of the
matter, however. after taking over the
reins and realizing that the sport
would help the tourist trade here. gave
permission TO those interested in the
game TO establish regularly organized
clubs
Hotel Men HeID.
The boost which the Johnson VIII
lard match has given to the tourist
trade the past month has astOnished
the business and hotel men, the result
being that they are now willing TO do
anything to help the game along. It
VIII not be surprising II some big
match IS arranged TO take place here
during the winter season every year.
for boxing now ranks next to racing
in drawing the outsiders TO the island.
Several Raw Matches Staged.
There is one thing the officials viii
have to do If they expect to keep the
game on a solid foundation. and that
is to place IL IN the hands Of COM
mission similar TO that OF Wisconsin
There have been some very poor
ma tches held here aud the Yankees are
TO blame for it. They have staged any
thing. Just to get the money, with ne
thought as TO what damage might be
done TO the game The Cu5ans are not
far enough advanced in the game a.
fast learning, and when they do they
viii be able to conduct their own box
ing affairs to better advantage.
The natives are thoroughly taken up
with the sport and IL Tin not be Ions
before they will produce some real
them the real rudiments Of the game
They have some maEnificently put up
men for fighting, but they lack all
knowledge Of boxing. They have been
taking 1t up very fast. however, and il
win not be long before native Cubans
viii be fighting for hOnors in the states
at some Of the big clubs.
One Poor Right.
One Of the clubs matched up a native
heavyweight the other night against
John Lester Johnson. the American
negro tighter, and II was bad mis-
take The native Paselder knew moth
ing OF the art He was a fine speciman
OF manhood, scaling about 1SJ pounds.
ana wei DulL he was against one OF
the real tough negro heaVyWei Ehts and
as q result was stopped in the third
round. The poor fellow had no chance
Eainst the superior knowledge Of
Johnson he should have been nursed
along for while and matched against
boys Of his own class. It was a shame
to spoil the chances Of so fine a pros
pect-
Promoters Are Fighting.
With the game only in its infancy
the promoters have already started to
fight one another Clubs have sprung
up all over the city and as a result
none Of the small bouts are making
money The Stadium, a new plant, IS
really a splendid place for holding
shows. It seats over 5000 people and IS
built arena style, being modelled after
the famous stadium at Sydney. Capt
Cushman Rice. a big planter here, has
the boxing fever and has built a fine
arena in the heart Of the city, with
John R. Robinson in charge Then
there is the big arena at the race
track where the big bout was held,
seating over 10000 people.