El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-10

AT present practically all the life
n there is in the boxing game in
United states is that injected by the
United States army. Professional
boxing is dead. Only a few boxers
are able to earn their bread at the
game and then only by extensive ad-
vertsing that their efforts are par
tally for the benefit OF soldiers
Since the army has taken the game
in tow boxing has undergone some
radical changes. most OF which are
for the betterment Of the game. As
practiced under old professional rules
boxing increases the vim. vitality
and steam Of soldiers Under the new
rules adopted by the army the effect
Of conditioning the soldiers Is Just as
good and the art is taught win bayo-
net work in view The leit Jao. the
uppercut. foot work in advance. are
all dwelt on strongly in boxing as
taught in military mass practice be-
cause the movements employed are
the same as in bayonet work.
Ring and Gloves.
Slight changes have been made in
almost everything connected with the
game Army rings are from 10 10 20
feet the maximum professional rlns
being - feet Bouts in the army are
limited to six rounds. while profess
sional bouts in some states 90 as many
as 20 Army gloves are vastly larger,
ranging from u ounces down 10 six
while professional gloves are five
ounce mitts.
Better Decisions.
The army method has made ma
teriaI difference in the matter OF de-
Gliding contests. the referee being as
sisted by two judges Sometimes
two clerks are also provided In pro-
fessionai bouts the referee unassist-
ed. renders the decision Under the
army method Of judging It is some
times necessary for contestants 10
go another round in addition to the
scheduled number Of rounds, thing
unheard Of under professional rules
Under strict observance Of the army
rules the principals weigh In one hour
before the bout. while professionals
generally weigh in AZ 3 o'clock on the
afternoon Of the bout entering the
ring at $3.50 or 10 o'clock Weight at
the ringside is sometimes stipulated
Under revised army rules two sec
onds are provided dor and they must
keep their mouth shut during the
milling. In professional bouts any
number Of seconds are in accord with
the rule in most states. and coaching
from the ringside is common.
Must BOX.
Different penalties-mOst OF which
are heavy-are imposed by the army
rules for stalling or running away
from an opponent continually In
professional bouts no attention Is
paid TO these things. The fans may
howl but a boxer may stall and run
in a professional bout II he wishes
and there is nothing in the rules 10
hinder him. Only one warning is
provided for under new army rules
for a foul, the second bringing dis
qualification In professional boxing
D IN
bouts where real battling is STAGED.
it being up to the referee to declare
the stricken man winner in case the
referee believes him injured by foul
blow. or a couple dozen OF them
Makes Soldiers.
The army system answers the pur-
/ pose for which the old rules have been
revised-the making Of an effective
army. Il is not intended TO develop
expert boxers in the army At pres
ent hundreds OF thousands OF Ameri-
can youths are being taught the rudi-
ments Of the game yet as far as mass
instruction goes it is impossible 70
develop expert boxers. If n cousid-
! cradle number OF soldiers become in
Z terested in the game and are moved
Z to continue practice after the war Is
{ ended. some really clever boxers may
I be the result. As taught. mass mill
I tary boxing may be the stimulus that
viii ultimately lead TO a greater num-
| Der Of good boxers among the men OF
l America. but while war is in progress
l the work imposed on soldiers pro-
| hibits development Of expert mittmen
/ Making expert boxers is not the right
! tool to defeat the kaiser-it is the
making Of expert soldiers. Boxina
as an art is therefore subservient tC
military training and finished boxers
are not the result
The size OF the gloves used puts
] premium on the kick. causing
boxers TO employ n force that
! would prove their undoIua with
/ lighter gloves and n iah artist a.
m opponent. The limited num-
her Of rounds T. m incentive for
! Epeed rs Is also the diScOurnEinE
Of clinchinE. stnllin- and running
hut In the new program ring gen
! ernlNhip Is discouraged and endur-
/ nnce has not 80 much Mace.
] For many years the British army
] has employed practically the SAINT
methods now being used IN the Uni.
ted States army. The number Of ex.
I pert boxers turned out has been very
few. The professionals Of real meri
who have entered both the British
] and American armies have. rs a rule
! become slow and lost their form. dul
I to lack Of time to train and accom-.
/ modations in training. The effect OF
4 army life on a clever boxer has beer
well expressed by one OF the clever