Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-09
PROPOSED BILL
PROVIDES FOR
CLEAN. BOXING
Difference Between "COm-
merCialized" and illegal
lied" Sport Defined;
On Business Basis.

During the past week we have had
scores Of inquiries asking, what is
commercialized boxing?" CONNER
cialized boxing is meeting with
i'll favor by the legislature and is be-
ing used as a club by opponents of
legalized boxing as a club to pre-
vent the passage of house roll SO.
An Example of commercialized
boxing has been printed the past
week when "Tex" Richard announc-
ed that he had signed an agreement
with Jess Willard whereby the
cheese" champion will defend his
title for 100000 win or lose.
If house roll SO becomes a law the
people Of Nebraska can give thanks
to Gene Melady, who was respons-
ible for its drafting, that insult to
the intelligence of the American
people, such as the proposed bout.
Fan never be pulled off within the
borders OF Nebraska.
From the action of the present
Legislature it is evident that they are
broad minded and will favor con-
structive legislation. They protest
against commercial ventures such
as proposed by Willard and Rick
ard, and Justly.
Purely Commercial.
A fight such as proposed for Juiy
! is purely commercial boxing. I'll
scheduled for 20 to 30 rounds and
will probably be staged in the town
hat will give the promoters the
most money. in order to boost some
local enterprise.
The Nebraska measure limits
bouts to six rounds and is designed
solely for the entertainment of the
citizens OF the state and to allow
young men and old to develop them
selves physically by the training at
forded in boxing.
Boxers who take part in entertain
ments will be paid. the same as the
professional base ball player, the
professional at your golf club, or
Instructors in swimmingy or other
athletic events. So-called champion
ship fights for big purses, are pro-
hibited by the limit on the number
Of rounds.
The average boxer OF today IS not
the old-iashioned pug-ugly with un-
dershot chin and cauliflower ears,
who spent his time when not in the |
ring as houncer in a cheap saloon !
or pool hall. The present day boxer |
when not engaged in ring battles IS
a business man and among the most |
influential in the home towns.
corbett a Pioneer I
James T. Corbctt was ono Of the
pioneers in elevating the standards
of the ring. Before taking mp boxing
professionally he was bank clerk /
and since his retirement has been
an actor and is now starring in NOV |
ing pictures. Joseph f. Hagau, /
known in the ring as Philadelphia
Jack UBrien, is wealthy and sue
.essful real estate dealer
Mike Gibbons and his brother,
Tommy, have invested their ring
earnings IN apartment houses anu
real estate in their home town, st.
Paul. Their investments have been T
carefully made and they are now I
ndepcndly wealthy. Former
HEAVYWEIGHT Champion James ].
Teffries, has disposed of his cafe in
Los Angeles and is now farming.
He has one OF the largest and best
tanches OF pure bred stock in Cali
iornia.
Thus we distinguish between COM
boxing as it is advocated
bv the thousands of lovers of the
sport in Nebraska. The boxer is ell
titled TO remuneration the same as
the ball player, but not to commeE
cialize the sport as is planned by
Willard.
Nebraska sport lovers do not want /
eommercialized boxing but simply
desi-e to have clean sport as pro-
vided in house roll for the enter
tainment and the upbuilding of
bodies tired out by the strain OF a
busy business life.