The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-18
FAMOUS MEN SEEK
TO PURIFY BOXING
Gen. Wood and Gen. CrOwder
Among Those Who Plan for
National Control.
TAFT TO DRAW UP LAW
Army, Navy and Civilian Box
Ing Board Outline Movement
for Bettermcnt of Pastime.

cbamp,oned by a notable array OF
Americans both In military and civil
NE. Including Gen. Leonard Wood and
Iroyost Marshal General Enoch Crowder.
vho have organized and caused to be
,,corporated last Thursday at Albany
N. Army and Navy and Civilian Boxing
BOARD, plans have been completed for
radical changes In the system OF han
ding the sport OF boxing In the United
States.
These plans include the drawing UP by
former President William II. Taft OF a
national law for the government OF the
nas,ime; the establishment Of State
championships. the winners to compete
-o- national titles: Redistribution OF
toxers with a set scale Of weights and
rigid rules for contests: action looking
10 the repeal OF all State laws prohibit
INK boxing. and a general upbuilding OF
IRE sport in order that II may take its
place In the calendar OF vigorous pas
times in which the American people take
. lively interest
Roosevelt Behind Movement.
While none OF the incorporators could
- fduced to give any details as to the
p,ans, II was learned from q reliable
source that Col. Theodore Roosevelt. pre-
v.ous 10 tho illness that resulted In his
untirnely death, had consented to accept
the presidency OF the board.
The organizers OF the board. twenty
IA number. have since been engaged In
securing a president and vice-presidents
TIE names Of these officials were not
disclosed, but II became known that Gen
Leonard Wood and Provost Marshal
General Enoch Crowder are members.
Former President William II. Taft has
teen asked and has consented to draw
up a bill for national law TO govern
the sport.
In addition to rigid rules for the gov
eminent OF boxing so that II will become
q respectable sport the members OF the
board plan to set weights for classes ana
told State championship bouts In each
division, the winners OF the State cham
pionships then to meet for the national
titles. Appropriate trophies emolematic
Of titles will be provided.
The movement had Its inception last
summer on the night Of the Leonard
Lewis bout at the Newark ball grounds
Several OF the gentlemen interested In
the plan went to Newark on that occa-
sion intent on seeing the contest. They
were all enthusiasts on the subject OF
boxing, and anticipated a rare treat
from the meeting of the two champions.
Although they had reserved box seats in
advance. they failed to get the places
their coupons called for and left the
park In a disguised frame Of mind. The
next time they met they discussed the
question and reached a decision to re-
form the boxing situation In this coun-
Try
Alfred Marley. q lawyer OF 20 Mas
au street, who Is one of tho incor-
posa.ors, when asked as to the plans.
said: "It Is not our purpose to make
any premature statement as to the I'M
tertak,ng, but as soon as arrangements
are perfected for the launching of the
board We will disclose all the detils. !
will say this much: The Idea Is big
ore and military men o. the greatest
prominence are interested In the project.
VIII DO Away with Abuses.
1T Is the first time In history that
reputable. influential men have taken an
interest In boxing and II should result
in the elevation OF the pastime.
Those who have the matter IN charge
aim at national control OF the sport TO
the end that the abuses that have dis
sraced boxing in the past may De com
pletely eliminated. We shall have some
thing Of interest TO make public within
few days"
II IL understood that the new board
when II Is organized win introduce 2
bill in the legislature empowering tins
hoard to make rules for the government
Of all boxing bouts and giving II au'
tho-ity to classify boxers and regulate
the question Of referees and other mat
ters
The board II is said will also seek the
repeal OF all laws in the various Statea
that prohibit boxing.