The Washington herald., 1916-04-02
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MERIT & MERIT CO., Inc. 9O6 F Street
Boxing May BeDoomed
In Old New York CITY

Inc nue. ana cry OF the forces against
already is being directed toward the
grand old game OF fsticufhng, as a result
OF the recent Willard Moran battle in
New York City.
Petitions of protest, backed by the pow
erful support OF certain OF the metro
politan dailies, are being circulated. The
aid OF the clergy and OF various other
influences is being invoked, and. accord
ing to advices received from the East,
determined fight TO secure the repeal OF
the present law leGalizing ten-round box
ing contests within the confines Of the
Empire State will be prosecuted.
In due time the New York legislature
will be asked to take formal action.
The present warfare against boxing Is
merely a repetition of the agitation that
has always followed in the wake Of every
big ring engagement wherever staged.
Stress is laid on the so-calied brUtaliz-
ing influences Of tho sport. and. as is
usually the case. a campaign OF this sort
attracts, temporarily, a considerable fol-
lowing. Notoriety seekers are usually
found in the front ranks OF public move
ments Of this character but there are
also many earnest minded people who
will be enlisted with the forces in opPo-
but because they rea.!y believe the game
should be suppressed for the Lest in
terests Of the community.
In the New York agitation. however
the bs sis for the present movement will
be found reaching farther back than
the Willard-Moran encounter. Charges
of fraud in connection with the receipts
of boxing shows, whereby the State has
not received its full share of revenue.
poor matchmaking, public chickering's and
disputes between rival promoters. and
criticism in general from men on the
outside. who perhaps have not been
handed the passes they felt their political
influence warranted, have all combined
to bring boxing into disrepute IN New
York City. Fortunately this same condi-
ton does not exist in fstic centers out
side OF the metropolis.
Taken as whole the boxing game
Is kept unusually clean wherever 1t
iourishes. There has been no direct
evidence OF taking in connection with
matches. although even in this respect
there have been unsupported charges
made. but in tracing these down it will
be found that jealousy or spite is at
the bottom OF II. The fsir-minded in
vestigator will quickly discover the truth
Of this
Perhaps the most glarins evil Of all
in connection with the New York sit
uation lies in the fact that promoters
and managers OF boxers are too closely
associated. - In many instances the
matchmaker Of the club is also the
handler OF a string OF fighters. In a
situation like this II is natural that
the boxer who is under the psternsI
wing OF the matchmaker will not be
given the worst of il. This condition,
however, is a minor detail that a ruling
OF the boxing commission would quickly
eliminate. The boxing game should not
be condemned entirely because OF it.
In Wisconsin the State athletic com
mission went to the root Of this phase
Of the sport right at the outset A rule
was passed forbidding a promoter to use
a boxer that he manages In his own club.
There can be no favoritism shown as
long as this ruling is enforced.
Despite all the condemnation OF box
ing the sport will continue because a
big element Of the people approve and
want it This has been conclusively
shown times innumerable, but never
more emphatically than in the Willard
Moran affair where some 1900 people
paid over $4,000 to see the match, and
thousands were turned away because OF
lack Of room II the game is legislated
out OF existence II will spring up again
in the form of barn and turf fights and
then II becomes more brutal than 1t pos
sibly could be when under the super
visinS influence Of a legalized commits
sion.
The boxing game is entitled to a fair
chance to thrive in this country. In
England II is the most popular form OF
amusement among the people. The same
holds good in Australia. Even in France,
boxing has taken a wonderful hold on the
public.
Whether the agitation in New York
State will result in the suppression of
the sport is question at this time,
but 10 the legislators do put ban on
the sport IL undoubtedly will have a
serious effect in other ,fistic centers OF
this country.
Now that the heavy-weishts have gone
through their PAGES the smart little light
weights will he coming back into their
own. Two important matches between
the 1:5-pounders arc listed fof the present
week. At Kansas City. Charley White
and Matt Wells will renew their argu-
nlent for supremacy which started In
Milwaukee over a year ago. II will be
the NTH contest between the pair, but
~ tbs prospective sacounter u to be