The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-26
Bridgeport Boxing Commission
Sets Admirable Precedent
in the Matter.
OTHER SIMILAR ACTION
Benny Volger's Knockout Per
formances Entitle Him to
Bout With Kilbane.
nv CROSS COUNTER.

points by referees apparently oiS v" e''N
way to complete extinction Richard
Howell, who recently was appointed
Boxing Commissioner for Bridgeport,
Conn. has at the outset landed re-
sounding thump on the jaws OF the
boxers who delight in limited decision
less bouts. Referees will decide on
points at the end of bouts that. last the
official limit of twelve rounds, and cham
pions with a studied Discrimination 10
risk their titles in a contest to de-
csion doubtless will remain away from
the Connecticut town.
Howell pays his respects to the de-
cisionless type of boxer in the follow
ing straight from the shoulder language
"The only men who object to de-
'cision bouts are the boxers and their
managers. and their reason for ob1ecting
Is that they can fool the public, and
keep on boxing without fear OF their
official records being Injured. knowing
full well that a no decision contest can
not carry any weight in the record
books. AS a result of these no decision
bouts our boxing records have become
practically joke.
rTt Is a deep and intricate game that
is played in the boxing arena these days,
but In Bridgeport hereafter clubs, man
or they will be set down for a sus-
pension which may be final IL their Of
fences warrant that extreme action. for
the Boxing Commission will be invested
with the necessary power to suspend
violators of the commissions rules"
han On I'm Connecticut.
As Chief of Police Smith of New
Haven refuses to permit any bout In
that city unless the referee gives a de-
cision and as Hartford also insists
on decisions, II begins to look as though
the reign of the decisionless tomfoolery
Is nearing an end. There Is not the
slightest doubt that the failure to give
verdicts in all bouts, which originated
with the Frawley law, and has been cop
led by the Wisconsin and Minnesota
Boxing Commissions. has done incalcu-
liable harm to the sport and permitted a
horde of tricky boxers to make large
sums of money without giving the pub
lie q fair return for the expenditure.
II is quite true that II would be I'M
just to a champion who haC won his title
in a long bout to ask him to risk II on
a decision on points in a shorter con-
test. For example. Benny Leonard won
the lightweight title in a decisionless
bout limited to ten rounds. through the
medium of a knockout. 1t would not be
fair to him to expect that he should risk
that title on the verdict of referee on
points in a four, six or eight round
bout
At the same time all bouts In which
the champion takes part should be to a
decision. and II any Of the opponents
OF the titleholder could outpoint him 1t
would add to their prestige though not
giving them the championship. 1t should
ha cd hot
lose his title on a points decision in
any bout of less than ten rouhds. al
though a knockout would cause a change
OF title in a bout of any limit.
Couldn't "Pun."
BY this method the champions and
runners up would be compelled to ex-
tend themselves in every bout in which
they participated with the result that
the spectators would get the best SER
vices of the boxers on every occasion.
This plan of non-loss of title on points
except in a bout OF ten rounds or more
would conform TO the title system in
billiards. The champion cannot lose ex-
cept the play is in accordance with con-
ditions for title contests. and a cham
pion may be beaten in informal matches
and still retain his honors till such time
as he is defeated In a game under cham
pionship conditions.
In the absence of authoritative rul-
ing on this point, the champions them
selves could further the good cause by
consenting to box to decisions in short
bouts with the understanding that they
retain their titles, barring a knockout
Other good rules adopted by the
Bridgeport commission are as follows
More Good Rules.
weighing in will be at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon OF the day OF the show.
Denis Kelly. sealer of weights and
measures, will be the official weigher in.
All contestants must weigh In regard
less of what their agreements are with
club or opponent, and their weights will
be announced from the ring by the Of
fetal announcer. A man refusing to
weigh in will be liable TO suspension and
refused permission to engage in a box
ing contest in Bridgeport until such sus-
pension is raised.
"At the time of weighing in all con-
testants will be examined by the official
physician. who will give written
certificate to each contestant who re-
ceives his o. h. At the same time the
Official referee will explain the rules to
the boxers, and this will end the "im-
pressive" chats in the centre OF the ring
before each contest between the referee,
the principals md the army of seconds
who gather about.
The referees will be appointed by the
commission after having received II.
censes to referee and they will be exam
ined by the commission as to their quail
cations before they are given permits
AS every bout will call for a decision
from the referee it is certain that the
referees will have something to do be-
sides pulling bunny-hugging stallers
apart We shall soon see whether the
present day crop of referees Is capable
OF rendering decisions. Refereeing nc
decision contests and refereeing decision
contests are two different propositions. -