The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
DO ENGLISH REFEREES
 TREAT AMERICANS FAIRL Y?
History of Ring Shows Many Raw Decisions Civ
 en in Bouts in Which Foreign Boxers Figured.


 New York. July so.-There may be truth in the assertion of defender of English referoes of boxing Co tho effect that theso officials would not knowingly give on unfair decision against American fighters, and that they should not be charged with bias cven though their rulings at times eoern to favor the home athletes.
 That Is reasonable proposition, but what puzzles tho boxing enthus- fnsts of the United states is that nearly evory timc prestige or title is al stake tho decision goes to the Briton If he is on his feet at tho close of the scheduled number of rounds
 It Is a matter of record that no American champion or challenger meeting a T3rlton yet has received the rsforee's docieion on points in Eng land If the bout went the limit.
 Americans who have won bouts in England have knocked out their op- ponents.
 Kid IaviCne knocked out Dick Burse, Tommy Burns knocked out Gunner Moir, Jimmy Barry Knocked out Walter CrooL George Dixon stop ped Nuns Wallace. and Kid Mccoy and Philadelphia Jack O'Brien Knocked out nearly ell their oppon ents fn England.
 Looking at tho other side of the picture vp find that John c. Hecnan. tthe hrst Arnerfcan champion to go to England to fight for q worlds title. beat Tom Sayers SO severely the Briton could not get out of his corner for tho forty-thlrd round.
 The rufcree had left the ring in the thirty-cishth round. at q ume when Saycrs was plainly a beaten man, without giving decision, which was a flagrant violatio of the rules. The ring roPea were cut in the forty third round and the helpless Savers was carried to his quarters. Heenau walked to his dressing room.
 Although the referee did not name tho winner. England critics called tho battle a draw and thought 10 nollify Heenan by having two championship bolts made, one for Heenau and one for Savers. Tieonan's was not paid for and the maker took 1t way from the American.
 Jake ICursin fought Jem Smith, champion of England, 106 rounds at Seine. Franco. on December 19, 1887. Ktirain had all tho better of the en- counter, but at tho close of the 106th round tho rofeFco, an Englishman. falted tho bout on the allegation tha; tt wns too dark.
 It wns tho understanding that tho contest would be resumed the follow Ing day, but it mover was. and Smith thus csoaped beating. Kurain. dur ing the battle, was beaten by sticks fin the hands of Smiths heelers.
 R<rnnL GlrT~tF4 f1af lyR of Mnftlanh N. s w, met Smith In Bruges, Bel Riun- on December 2S, 1889. It was e repetition of tho bout win Kilrnln, only that Siaviu was more severely eeaten by those outside the ring. snavia had no difficulty in beating Smith. but tho ring was rushed in the Fourteenth round and tho English referee called the bout a draw. But hero noto tho difference. Slavin was a native of an English colony, and tho English sportsnen took up tho matter, saw to it that Slavin got the winners end of the purse and also Brought about tho expulsion from the Pelican Club of Squire Abingdon, who had been perniciously active in be- half of Smith
 One of the first boxers under Queeosbury rules to get a taste of English decisions was Dave Sullivan who. as a bantam, boxed with Pcdlar Palmer in London in 1897. Sullivan bent Palmer SO severely tho Briton had to be assisted from tho ring. But Palmer got the decision on points"
 Paokey Mcfarland boxed twenty five rounds with Freddie Welsh In 1908, and although many English critics inaigtod the American had tho potter of tho argument, the Bnglish xeferee gave the decision to Welsh. MoFnriand refused to make a second match with Welsh in England.
 What happened to willie Ritchie when he boxed welch for the title Is a matter of history, and the two de- cisions in favor of Wilde over Moore and Lynch furnish corroborative evil dsnoe.
 There arc flow American bo7cers who could with safety to their reputatfons so to England and take a chance with English referees. These arc Jack Dempsey. Mike O'Dowd and Bonuy Leonard. Thsse title holders would be likely 10 knock out their British opponents before the limit was reached
 English referees may be above sus- p1oton of catering to English boHers and their motives may be of the best Such being tho case, there is no es- cape from the conclusion that their method of ooruputing the points in a boxing contest is radically defective. BRIDGEPORT IS
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