New-York tribune., 1919-06-28

The result of the weighty delibera-
tions of the Army Navy and Civilian
Board of Boxing Control have been
given to breathlessly waiting world.
Ollie Pecord, the local idol, will ref
cree the big fight, with Jack Skelly,
of Yonkers, as alternate. Tex Rick
ard will be one judge and Major
Anthony J.. Drexel Biddle the other.
]. Warren Barbour will be the time
keeper.
Should the fight go twelve rounds
and the judges disagree, the final de-
cision will rest with Mr. Pecord.
Rickard tried to evade the RESPONSE
bility of acting as judge, but Will
lard insisted. In fact, some time ago
Willard issued the ultimatum that if
Richard did not referee he would pack
up his safe deposit Keys and leave.
Richard told him to leave, and it
looked for a moment as though the
Fourth Of July celebration might be
. bust, but Willard remained.
Pecord an Old-Time Fighter
Ollie Pecord seems to stand we'll In
this section of the sticks. He has
refereed many tough battle, Of which
we have heard nothing. Also he has
battled himself in the days when they
wore skin-tight gloves and fought un
der the London prize-ring rules. He is
fifty-one years old, but still seems to
have the strength to break the men If
it should be necessary.
The matter of the judges Is viola
tion of the traditions of the Queens
berry ring and something Of a shock
to the sticklers for the old forms.
Jack Kearns, manager of Jack Demp-
sey, declared that it did not matter
anyhow, as all that he wanted was q
man to count Willard out. Willard de-
clared that all he wanted was referee
to count Dempsey out. So it would
seem on the surface that the arrange
ment was perfectly satisfactory to all
concerned.
Another tradition Of the ring was
violated when no wine agents, salooe-
in the selection of officials. The mem
bers of the executive committee of the
Army and Navy and Civilian Board OF
Boxing Control who selected the Off
cials are:
Major A. J.. Drexel Biddle. of the
Philadelphia Biddles; Gutzon Borglum
sculptor and airplane critic; r. B
Steele, president of the r. B. Steele
Corporation; Thomas D. Conroy, bond
broker; Alfred Marilley, attorney;
William H. Dennis, merchant; William
A. Gavin, president Of the Gavin-Ar-
mour Steel Corporation; Adolph E.
Borde, president of the Savage Arms
Corporation; Owen H. Names, presi-
dent of the Grand Rapids Furniture
Company; j. Warren Barbour and
: Adam Empie.
Sport Getting Refined"
Not member of the committee has
tin ear; not a member has ever
tended bar. AS Jc.k McAuliffe, the un-
defeated lightweight champion of the
world, put it: "This is the first time
that referee was ever picked at a
meeting of the board of directors of a
bank. The sport is getting refined or
else IT'S starting out on a purely busi-
ness basis"
The afternoon was cool and Willard
was IN ponderously jocular mood
ne let go very, few serious punches
For one act he held the paw of Steam
boat Bill Scott tucked under his arm
and dragged him over the ring, while
the crowd chortled and the experts
scowled. They do not like the frivol-
Gus way in which Willard trains.
Through it all Battling Nelson
moaned: "Why don't that guy take my
advice and do road work? A guy can't
get right without road work"
Willard appeared in a new suit of
purple tights. In all he boxed the
usual twelve rounds. Among those
who glowered from the rineside was
the famous trainer, William Muldoon.
Mr.. Muldoon was deeply affected by the
sordid CONNIE realism Of the modern
lighters training. Mr.. Muldoon trained
kx~,