New Britain herald., 1919-04-07
PETE HERMAN FEARS
 ENGLISH REFEREES
Bantam Champion Will Demand
 an American Official

New York. April 7.-As d result of the decision in favor of Wilde over Lynch and the outspoke1 dissent of a large number of English ringside critics it is questionable if any American champion, or any promin- ent contender for 8 title will consent to risk title or reputation in Q bout i'll England under a British referee.
 American boxers call attention to the fact that both Packey Mcfarland and Willie Ritchic complained of the unfairness of the decisions of the referees when they boxed Freddie Welsh, and it is set forth that boxers from the United States have seldom won on points, but have been com- peIled to stop their opponents in order to get the verdict.
 Pete Herman, the worlds bantam champion, is the first American title holder to voice the apprehension that all boxers in this country feel regard ing a contest under the English sys- tenn Of scoring points, Herman's position is set forth in comlnunica- ton to The Sun from his mana ser, Sam Goldman, as follows:
 Hcrman's Statement.
 Tn view of the repeated offers of Wilde to box Pete Herman, permit me to say that Herman is equally as anxious to box Wilde. Pete Herman ] became champion bantamweight of the world after a series of matches with nearly every little man in this country Herman defeated hld Williams in matches than in all ran fifty-six rounds and clearly showed his superiority. lie also oeleateu Frankie Burns.
 Nothing would be more pleasing to Herman than to battle Wilde either on the other side or here. The system of deciding the winner of a bout over there has angles that to say the least, have not been satis- factory to American fighters or the American public. It may be that Willie Ritchie was, defeated by Welsh, but, remembering the style of the two fighters and their ability l for one have sympathized with Ritchies claim that he was not de- feated. The match between Wilde and Lynch has come in for criticism. Reading the reports of the London papers and the critics who were there it is a mystery how " the referee decided that Wilde had won on points. It would be unjust to any champion ; who by hard work had won 8 title to lose his championship by defec- , tive system of refereeing.
 1 Seeks Fair Decision
 While Herman is interested in the l size of the purse, he also is interested , in the championship, and when he loses it he would prefer to do so 1 fairly and to better man who will ] win without question.
 Herman is ready to go abroad and meet Wilde and other foreign fighters of ability He is willing that the battle be for a few rounds or a great number, or as many i rounds as may be necessary to dem i onstrate supremacy of one over the l other. If the foreign public desire to see him in action according to
 their standard of judging battles, : and their own referee, then he will
 insist that the battle be a decisionless
 one. Herman would prefer that tho battle be for fifteen or twenty rounds but the system of selecting the win l ner in England is not satisfact ory 1 If 8 decision is preferable then an 1 American referee should be chosen.
 We do not care to name the referee
 so long as he is recognized and e2-
 perienced. In view of the importance
 of such a match between two title
 holders of England and America we
 would leave the selection of referred
 to the leading sporting papers. Tho
 name of the referee is imlnaterial
 but he must hall from the United
 States.
 AMATEUR BOXING