Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-14
\. !. PROMOTERS
HURT BOXING CAME
SPORTSMEN OF THE EMPIRE
STATE 90 NOT CONDUCT THE
SHOWS IN GOOD MANNER-PE-
CUNIARY GAIN THEIR ONLY
MOTIVE.

New York. Feb. 1.-THE hungry
| tentacles of state laws are gradually
| closing in on the boxing game, and
n many parts of the country the life
has been crushed from the sport.
Persistent boosters of boxing do all
that is in their power each year to
push bills lcsalizing the game thru
| our state legislatures. But instead
Of increasing the number of states
II which boxing is permitted. the field
decreasing
Boxing is in decidedly bad in New
York. Tie methods employed by
those who we're put in charge of box
ing under the state laws have been
big blow to the sport here. In Colo
RADIO the game is tOttering. II was
not boosted any by the Welsh-Whitc
fight at Colorado Springs. and the
chances are that twenty-round bouts
are 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
awaiting the chance to deliver tho
death blow which will result in its
exclusion altogether
The fact that boxing is limited to
SO few states with the field for its
operation constantly growing mar
rover, Is traceable directly to the
free and Easy methods used by those
Who foster it,
Lax methods In the handling OF
',outs; petty grievances between box.
ers and promoters and the grasping
attitude of some who have horned
into the game are to blame. II is to
be regretted that an admission Of the
true cause for growing sentiment
against boxing puts the men who
handle the game in bad light But
1t is the truth.
or course, there arc many good mon
connected with boxing. Many pro-
meters 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
sec 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
| Now York clubs have sold tickets for
seats which they knew could not DO
found in their clubs. They have sold
the house ont and still kept the box
Office open The fight fans had to
take a chance. If they beat sonnet ne
else to ii, well and good. II not, they
were the losers. Only a few years
ago, when boxing 0Ourshed in the
West. such condition would have
called for 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.
A move to take boxing from New
York would prove almost as hard a
blow to The game as its demise in
California. New Work City alone has
been the mecca for hundreds OF box.
ers during the past four or five years.
Boxing bouts Of importance have
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
the only states aside from Colorado
which compare with New York. Colo.
RADIO and Louisian as fertile fields
for the game. In most other states
boxing is not really prosperous.
Pennsylvania allows boxing, but
tho biting boys must stick to the
sixround route. and the game under
these conditions Is not at It's best by
any means. In q few scatter ne
states boxing bouts are permitted in
connection with celebrations. but in
reality the laws are against it,
Havana, Cuba, is tic only city in
the western hemisphere where a I'm.
ish fight that will pay for itself at
tho box Office can be staged and
Havana will no doubt be tho scene
OF some important boxing bouts dur
iug the present year, oess
TO say the least boxing Is being
. tossed about like small cork on an
angry sea, and unless those who run
/ the game arc made to sec tho hand-
writing rand place substantial props
+ under boxing before it Is too late,
tho day is not far off when a first.
Glass boxing match viii be as hard
to find az climbing roses around the
North Pole