The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-17
BOXING ON WANE?
Old Squared Circle Sport Seems
in a Bad Way Now.
Even New York Is Talking OF
Existing Without 1t.
BY JACK VEIOCK.

New York. Feb. 1.-THE hungry
tehtacles of state laws are gradually !
closing in on the boxing game, ana IN
many parts of the country the lie
has been crushed from the sport
Persistent boosters of boxing do all
push bills legalizing the game thru
our state legislatures. But instead or
increasing the number of states in
which boxing is permitted, the field Is
decreasing.
Boxing is in decidedly bad in New
York The methods employed by
these who were put in charge of box
ing under the state laws nave been
big blow to the sport here. In Col
orado the game is tottering. 1t was
not boosted any by the Welsh White
| fight at Colorado Springs. and the
| chances are that twenty-round bouts
are a thing of the past in the region
/ of the Rockies. In Minnesota boxing
/ is on trial, while in many other states
enemies of the sport are merely await
/ ing the chance to deliver the death
blow which will result in Its exclusion
altogether
The fact that boxing is limited to so
! few states With the field for its ouer-
alton constantly growing narrower, is
| ira ceable directly to the free and
easy methods used by those who fos-
| ter it.
Promoters to Blame.
Lax methods in the handling of
bouts; petty grievances between box
ers and promoters and the grasping
attitude of some who have horned
into the game are to blame. 1t is to
be regretted that an admission of the
true cause for growing sentiment
against boxing puts the men who han
die the game in a bad light. But it
| is the truth
OF course, there are many good
men connected with boxing. Many
promoters stick to the sport and take
sporting chance on making a fair
profit They would rather have the
sport for itself and break even than
see it dropped altogether But there
are others who think of nothing but
the dollars that come in at the box
office. and this class of promoter is
common around New York Many
New York clubs have sold tickets for
seats which they knew could not be
found in their clubs. They have sold
the house out and still kept the box
office open. The fight fans had to
take a chance. If they beat some.
one else to it, well and good. If not,
they were the losers. Only a few years
ago, when boxing flourished in the
West, such a condition would have
called for a general shooting up of
the house. But the promoters who
handled shows in the old days were
willing to give dollar for dollar in
value at the box office.
New York the Mecca.
A move to take boxing from New
York would prove almost as hard a
blow to the game as it's demise in
California. New York City alone has
been the Mecca for hundreds OF
boxers during the past four or five
years.
l Boxing bouts of Importance have
. been held in but few cities outside
+ of the metropolis. New Orleans and
: Denver, or Colorado Springs being the
only other cities where big cards are
staged which draw enormous gates
; Wisconsin, Ohio and Missouri are
s the only states aside from Colorado
: which compare with New York, Colo
e RADIO and Louisiana as fertile fields for
! the game. In most other states box
ing is not really prosperous
Pennsylvania allows boxing. bu
o the biting boys must stick to the six
Il round route. and the game under
these conditions is not a it's best b,
any means. In few scattering states
d boxing bouts permitted in connec
II ton with celebrations, but in realit.
e the laws are against it.
Havana, Cuba, is the only city il
n the western hemisphere where a fin
= ish fight that will pay for itself at TIL
" box office can be staged, and Havan;
n will no doubt be the scene of som
re important boxing bouts during tn
present year.