The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-22
WILLARD-FULTON OVER LONG ROUTE
Ten Rounds Not Enough for
 Championship Contest Only Money Scheme.
By Right Hook

To all appearances the Willard-Ful- ton match for the worlds heavy weight championship is going to de- generate into a ten round affair. Whther this was the champions idea from the first or whether it is the force of circumstances that has fore ed the men to take the bout to St. Paul, where ten rounds is the limit permitted by law, is not exactly clear. At present Minnesota seems to be the only State that is ready to welcome the two big fighters. However, the fact that Promoter Miller turned down an offer from New Orleans, where twenty rounds can be fought, makes it look as though a ten round bout is the limit set by Willard.
 According to report, Chairman Sci berlich of the Minnesota Boxing Com- mission is so anXiuos to have the bout held under his jurisdiction that he has offered to waive the rule prohib- iting decisions. Gov Burnquist also is said have made it known that he would follow the precedent set by the Governors of Utah and New Mex ico, who have announced that they will not permit a championship bout during war times. However, Govern. ors have been known to change their minds, and it is by no means certain that at the last moment there will not be such an outcry against the big money making affair that Gov. Burn quist will be forced to stop the bout.
 Experienced promoters are all of the opinion that unless the fighters agree to give a fair proportion of the proceeds to some war charity the af- fair will fall fiat. Sa far Col. Miller has given no sign that he will do any thing of the kind. On the contrary. when he was in the East recently he waved aside all suggestions to that effect
 Sentiment in various sections of the country seems to be against holding the match at this time. Papers in several cities are taking a vote on the question of whether the men should fight here in a ring or in a trench in France. The vote is over i whelmingly in favor of the latter | proposition. However, this is hardly | a fair test, since those who have the | hardihood to vote for the boxing match have their names and addresses l printed. Naturally few care to have their patriotism questioned, so the vote is altogether one sided.
 | As a sporting proposition a ter round bout does not appeal to ring l followers in the leaEt. Even if decision is permitted that hardly vii be enough to take it out of the jokt class. It is looked upon as none! making scheme pure and simple. Ev en in times of peace a match of tha kind would be drowned upon.
 The heavyweight championship never has changed hands in bou
 that was scheduled to go less thai l twenty-five rounds. Sullivan and Cor
 bett both lost their titles in f1nisl
 fights. Jeffries and Johnson agreed 1 to fight forty-five rounds, more is nee
 essary.
 A decision at the end of ten round
 would not be taken seriously, for tn
 very good reason that no refere
 would have the gall to take the til
 away from Willard on points in
 bout so short that the men woul
 hardly have time to get warmed LII The champion is a deliberate, p1oddin ) sort of fighter, who likes to talk his time. He had not begun to figh : in the first ten rounds of his battl with Jack Johnson. The big fello7 can withstand all kinds of punish : ment, and there is no reason to thin
 that Fulton could make any real i'm
 preston upon him in ten rouds.
 The heavyweight title ever ha , changed hands on a referees de cision and the ring followers do nc wish to see change made in this re
 spect. Ring traditions is all again: t such a proceeding, which would onl
 cheapen the title
 As a matter of fact there is n
 referee in the country that the publ
 would wtrust to make such an in ? portant decision. Since Willard the leading spirit in the promotio of the be-. St stands to reason that
 would not consent to place his tit
 in the keeping of a referee who 1T
 tended to make a hairIine decislo one way or another.
 7 Even if Willard were so foolish g 9 to consent to risk his title in te 3 round affair the public could not [
 made to believe that the referee r hands were not tied, so that litt ' would be. gained in the way of ado 0 ing interest to the match. The bol t would draw just as well without d decision unleas the men agreed = fight tlleast twenty rounds, and tn
 chance are that noe will be permitte'