The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1918-01-26
EVOLUTION OF BOXING
By BILLY MCCLAIN

Since boxing has caught the ewes
of the United States government and
is being recognized by the same. the
game has come into the justice that
has been due it so long. Looking back
on the boxing game for the past
twenty-five years, about the be-
ginning of that time, you will find
boxing in bad standing; looked on
by the highbrows as very brutal
kind of sport, as the means of live
lihoOd for uncOuth lOw-brows, ruff
fans and bullies. Consequently box
ing was outlawed from one state to
another until there was hardly a state
in the Union that legalized boxing OF
course, in those days, as today, the
majority ruled, but the right pre-
vailed, so we had boxing. even if we
had to resort to barns, barges. woods
and the open plains. II was some
sport to see the boxers promoters
and the fans skipping and dodging
from place to place to hold bout,
and many times whispering loud of
one place for the benefit of the police
and holding the bout I'm another place.
Lots of times the cops would drag in
the whole outfit--promOters, boxers
and fans all that were not lucky
enough to make their escape. Some
of the greatest bouts ever seen were
in those days. They fought for su-
premacy and not so much for the
money then Many times the fans
would pass the hat around or chip in
and make up purse of few hun
dred dollars for the boxers. which
was very satisfactory and lots of
times they realized practically moth
ing for their efforts. Along about
that time fe wof the highbrows
Joined the boxing squad, among them
James j. COrbett. a young bank clerk
of San Francisco, Cal. Peter Jack
SON theological student of Aus
tralia, and j. a. AthertOn, young
college athlete. who resorted to the
ring under an assumed name to re-
plensh the family's fast dwindling
fortune. and Charley Mitchell, we'll
to-do Englishing of the middle class.
Great was the day for boxing when
lsuch men joined the ranks. From then
| boxing took new lease on life, and
slowly but surely began to gain
friends From the good that was ae-
rived and the easy money that was in
the game II served to work both ends
at the same time, so boxing was Civ
en- due consideration ~ the fair
minded people, who found no fault in
the game so long as it was conducted
on the square Right here ! want to
say that there were lot of crooks
in the boxing game. both boxers and
promoters. who would not hesitate
for a moment to frame up for few
hundred dollars. But the friends of
boxing soon eliminated the most of
them. and today it is a rare occasion
to have any such thing happen. One
state after another began to legalize
boxing, from four rounds all the way
TO forty-five rounds. and the state of
| Nevada had finished fights. Then
the fan could walk into the boxing
club or fight arena, take him COM
Portable seat and enjoy himself with
out fear of molestatiOns by the law.
More clean and moral young men
took up boxing as a protection in self
defense and manly art, also the
money there was i'm IT, Consequently
| the game produced some great ring
sters who did credit, to the name of
boxing. who lived to uphold a just
sport, and at the same time save their
money. Many one, after having
passed the age 10 do justice to the
game. retired wealthy, and today are
living on the shady side of Easy
street-all due to boxing. When the
call to arms was heard the boxers
were among the first to respond to
the colors, othe government bowed
its appreciation by giving commits
sions as second lieutenants to several
Of the leading boxers and putting
them in charge of boxing in various
lcontonments. So instead of boxing
being looked on as a brutal sport for
rough -necks. bullies and uncouth ruff
fans, 1t is educational. beneficial and
a necessity, and good enough for the
best in the land.