Evening journal., 1915-02-16
DELAYED Decisions
IN FIGHTS Favored
NebraSkan Makes An Anus
ing Proposition For
"Uplift" Of Sport
SCHEME is
NOT ORIGINAL

BY long odds the most amusing
proposition regarding pugilism that
has appeared in many year comes
from a Nebraskan, who doubtless is
animated by a sincere desire to bet
Ter the sport. His suggestion is that
decisions should be made by referees
in all bouts, but that the referees be
not required to announce their iudg-
ments till twenty-four hours after the
bouts had taken placel
Shades OF Bill Tate, of Buffalo
what a Joyous time the referees would
have with the men who had bets on
the contestsl The referees would
have to hide themselves in a cave
til such time as they gave their
decisions.
However, the Nebraskan Is not the
originator Of that interesting scheme
Of delayed decisions. which In base
hall would be known as the delayed
steal Bill Tate Of Toledo was one
of the earliest referees to utilize tho
idea. Tate was the third man in
the ring during the combat between
John l.. Sullivan and Dominick Nc
Caffrey. which took place at Ches-
ter Driving Park, Cincinnati, in
1885.
The articles of agreement called for
a battle Of six rounds, "or to a fin
ish." the latter clause being inserted
by the Sullivanites with the object
of enabling Sullivan to win to a
certainty in a finish battle, provided
he failed to stop McCaffrey inside
the six rounds. To the annoyance of
Jawn l.. and his hackers, McCaffrey
not only declined to be beaten in six
rounds, but had trounced Sullivan SO
thoroughly that the champion refused
10 come out of his corner for the sew
enth round. although urged by Nc
Caffrey to do so.
Under the rules. this action on the
part of Sullivan automatically dis
qualified the champion, and gave the
decision and title to McCaffrey. But
bound down by conventions, and dur
ing some heated conversation between
the Sullivan and McCaifrey factions
the referee quietly slipped out of the
ring and went to his home in Toledo,
where he could study the problem in
peace and quiet.
Forty-elght hours after the battle
Tate, after mature reflection, sent oui
word that Sullivan had won the con-
test We will not assert that there are
many Bill Tates in the referee game
at present. but Il will be just as we'll
for all concerned to follow that fun
damental rule of pugilism that the
referee shall give his decision
promptly and irrevocably."
What Is n lightweight
We are in dismay over the edict by
an oracular gentleman to the effect
that unless boxer can make 1873
pounds ringside he is not a light
weight and while we shudder at the
Queensherry iconoclasm made neces-
sary by the ultimatum, still il de-
wolves on me TO announce that, under
the 1873 ringside proclamation, Jack
McAuliife, reputed to have once held
the lightweight championship was
not a lightweight. and therefore could
not have been the lightweight cham.
pion In the latter years of his sup.
posed championship McAuliffe coult
not make below 1856 to 13S pound.
4 and therefore he was not a light
weight
Next on the list to be shorn Of his
championship honors is Kid Lavigne
who, though once able TO scale 10;
pounds, grew fat. aud in the battle il
which he lost his supposed title HI
weighed 1876 pounds. Farewell. Saw
; dust Kid. We thought you were
champion, but not so.
Frank Erne has also been masquer
a aiding for years as a supposed cham
pion. He beat Lavigne at 1876 pound
= for the alleged title, and lost his hon
ors to Cans at 1876 pounds.
Who said Cans was lightweight
champion? Not so. He never weighe
1873 POUNDS. ringside His best weigh
was 1856. but he twice made 131 1-2 70
: Battling Nelson. Vale. Cans title.
But now we come to a real cham
piOn, Battling Nelson. He could max
1873 rounds ringside, and so could A
Wolgast. They are the only meI
therefore. who ever held the light
weight championship OF America.
AS for Ritchie. who is said now {
weigh 142. he never was a champion
and the same applies to Welsh, who's
favoritc poundage was 1876 AS TO Shr
grue, Cross, White. Robideau and
cluster of other 135-pounders, the
{ may as well stop masquerading a
lightweights, for they are welters. thi
is what they are. And Jack Brittoi
/. who can whale the clothes of any
II these alleged lightwcights. he's e we
ter too. Kid Graves is about the onl
!. welter who seems willing TO confc.
). up.
There is one weak spot in the l3
o pound ukase of the oracular gentl
man. The bouts for the hghtweigl
y title that have been contested at /,
} ringside can be counted on the hnge
of one hand. Again. the question
to who had authority TO set the ligh
weight limit al 1888 pounds ringsi
has never been successfully answer
and cannot be. for the reason that
authoritative body ever did So {
n weights having been set according
- | the pDundanQ of fho title hOldcrq