New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-16
Filming of Pierce and
O'Brien May Lead to
Legal Squabble
BY W. o. MCCLELLAN

There is some chance that the status
OF the Boxing Commission and the
legality of the ten-round no-decision
boxing game will be tested in lawsuit
In the near future. The suit was
threatened yesterday by the managers
Of Harry Pierce and Shamus O'Brien,
who staged hippodrome at the Hunts
Point Sporting Club Tuesday night
The Boxing Commission ruled that
Referee Jack Dorrman was justified IN
stopping the bout and that the lighters
were not entitled to any pay for their
services. Whether the Boxing Com
mission has Jurisdiction to do this may
be determined by the suit.
A Palpable Fake
The former Boxing Commission held
that the Chip-Clabby bout was a pal
pable fake. The bout was stopped by
Referee Roche, and experts and almost
experts agreed that the boys were
doing "Dan OLeary." The members
Of the Boxing Commission consulted
legal authorities to learn II they hao
any right to corfscate the money which
was TO have been paid the fighters
They were informed by the Attorney
Generals Office that they did not.
The commission finally found that
the men had not been putting up their
best efforts and ruled them off for a
month. They should have been ruled
off for life.
But there Is the delicate point In the
law which licenses bouts. The law says
that they must be boxing exhibiticns,
and assumes that they will In no sease
be fights TO a decision. II the Boxing
Commission decides that two fighters
must try their best to bring about
Knockout they are putting themselves
in the place Of demanding violation
of the law.
Anything may legally be called
boxine exhibition. A ten-round waltz
bv Freddie Welsh would be held box
ing exhibition. The McFarland.Gip-
hons fake was boxing exhibition.
Under the letter of the law the Boxing
Commission cannot complain II TWO
boxers agree not to try for knockout
While such a proceeding would be en-
tirelv legal, il is not what the puollc
which patronizes boxing pays money 10
see.
Many Suspicious Fights
We are discussing this point here
because there have been great NUM-
her Of suspicious fights in this vicinity
of late. We want it known that there
is no protection against prearrahKe-
ment in big fight.
O'Brien and Pierce may decide to ac-
cept the sentence imposed Dy the po1-
ing Commission, but in case where
there is a larger sum OF money IN
volved the boxers in the case could go
into the courts with good case
against the commission. They might
aiso secure an injunction against the
Commission If they happened to be sus,
nended as well az fined. They would
have the plea that they were restrained
from giving legal boxing exhibitions oy
a state body which insisted that they
must give an Illegal prize fight. >,
There is no protection legally LOT
old General Fight Public. When he
bnvs his ticket or begs his Annie Oak
lev he doesn't know whether 1t 10 LOT
a fight or social until the evening
is gone.
Jimmie Coffey, the Mohawk Indian,
has severed diplomatic relations WIN
John the Barber. Hereafter corey
will be shaved and shampooed uhder
his own management
Rob Moha has been matched to box
JetY smith AZ Milwaukee after he gets
tbrongh with the Miske affair. Mona
savs That ne will be glad TO 60 west
where the sirloin steaks are more pien-
tiful.
Walter Mohr, a Brooklyn boxer, was
ered 800. lie thanked the commission
Tor the compliment, but said that there
Nd not been that much money in tne
Flatbush district since the Worids
Series.
METROPOLITAN, ~ \ Q t ) Il
Telephoncs Bryant IVVsI 49,, Aida