The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-17
NO-DEC|SIOX BOUTS
TO Be ELIMINATED
Bridgeport Boxing Commissin Sets
Admirable Precedent In the
Matter.
OTHER SIMILAR ACTION.
Benny Nolgcr's Knockout Perform
ance Entitle Him to Bout With
kilbane.
-


kilbane
Boxing contests minus decisions on
points by referees apparently are on
the way to complete extinction. Rich
ard Howell, .who recently was APP
eointed boxing commissioner for
Bridgeport. Conn, has at the butset
.anded a resounding thump on the
tsys of the boxers who delight II.
limited decisionless bouts. Referees
will decide on points at the end OF
bouts that last the official limit of
relVc rounds, and champions with
a studied Discrimination to risk their
titles in contest to a decision
doubtless viii remain away from the
Connecticut town.
Howell pays his respects to the de-
cisionless types OF boxer In the FOL
lowing straight from the shoulder
language:
The only men who object to de-
cision bouts are the boxers and their
managers, and their reason for OBJ
lectine Is that they can fool the pub
lie, and keep on boxing without fear
of their official records being injur-
ed, knowing full well that a no de-
cision contest cannot carry any
weight in the record books. AS a
result of these no decision bouts our
boxing records have become practi-
cally joke.
1T is A. deep and intricate game
that IS played in the boxing arena
these days lat in Bridgeport here
after clubs, ma nasers and boxers will
he set down for a suspension which
may he final ii their Offences war
rant that extreme action, for the box
ing commission will be invested with
the necessary power to suspend vio-
iators- Of the commissions rules"
Ban On in Connecticut.
As Chief OF Police smith, of New
'ayen, refuses TO permit any bout In
that city unless the referee gives q
decision ana "a Hartford also insists
cn decisions. 1t begins to look ~
though the reign OF the decisionlesa
tomfoolery is nearing an end There
is not the slightest doubt that the
failure to- giye ,Yorabrts, In ea.li boats
which originated with the Frawlcy
Law, and has Been copied by the Wis
consin and Minnesota boxing COM
missions, has done iHcalculabie harm
to the sport and permitted a horde
of tricky boxers to make large sums
ot money without giving the public
a fair return for the expenditure.
II is quite true that it would be un-
just to 81 champion who had won his
title in q long bout 10 ask him to risk
on decision on points In a shorter
contest. For example. Benny Leon
n.sA l. s. -.
'sionless bout limited TO ten rounds
through the medium OF a knockout.
1t would not be fair 10 him to ex-
pect that he should risk that title on
he verdict OF a referee on points In
a four. six or eight-round bout
All the same time all bouts in which
the champion takes part should be
q decision. and If any of the op-
ponents of the titleholder could out
point him it would add to their pres
tise though not giving them the
II should be arranged
that a title holder could not lose his
title on a points decision in any bout
of less than ten rounds. although a
knock out would cause a change OF
title in bout IF any limit
Couldn't Pull"
Ry this nettiou the champions and
runners up would be compelled to
sxtend themselves in every bout In
which they participated with the re-
'tlt that the spectators would get the
best services Of the boxers on every
occasion.
This plan OF non-loss OF title on
points except in n bout of ten rounds
or more would conform to the title
system in billiards. The champion
cannot lose except the play In In Ac-
cordance with conditions for title
contests. and a champion may be
beaten in informal matches and still
etain his honors till such time ~
he Is defeated in game under
championship conditions.
the absence Of authoritative ru,-
ing on this point, the champions
themselves could further the good
CT use by consenting to box TO de-
cisions in short bouts with the UNDER
standing that they retain their titles,
barring knockout.
Other good rules adopted by the
'dgeport commission are a. fol-
lows:
Weighing In will be at s O'Clock
In the afternoon OF the day Of the
show. Denis Kelly. sealer Of waiNhta
and measures. will be the 0fictAl
weigher In. All contestants must
weigh in regardless Of what their
agreements are with club or oppO-
nent. and their weights will b. an
nounced from the ring by the cfEictAl
announcer. A man refusing 70 weigh
i'm will be liable to suspension and
refused permission to engAxe !, In q
boxing contest in Bridgeport until
such suspension Is raised.
Al the time or Weighing in m
will be examined ~ the
eftctal phystcAn. Who N1H gtys i