El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-22

/ because OF the dearth OF good boxers
I In certain Classes. Poor shows in a
| locality that has as many good box
ing fans as FL Paso cannot be charged
/ tc lack Of boxers IN any class. The
] failures in such have been due to poor
/ promoters.
Any community that has an abund-
I ance Of boxing fans don't particularly
reed so many expert boxers They
! need expert promoters. The boxers
I will soon come. The fact that fans
I are numerous here IS proof that at
! some former time promoters have put
/ on good shows-thats what makes
] fans The game has suffered lately
4 about FL Paso from poor promoting.
Managers knock Sport.
Fifth rate managers have also con-
l trihuted to the troubles Of the game
! here. The same is true throughout
1 the United States In various states
] boxing commissions have taken up
I many phases Of the game and very
] greatly improved boxing elevating IL
! TO somewhat the position it should
Z occupy TO serve in developing men
] IN most communities however any
I old mouthpiece is accepted for a man
I ager, resulting in putting the boxer
Z In worse with the public than II he
/ lad no manager az ALL t. IS not only
I foul and crooked boxers that need 10
I be ousted more often BY commissions.
I but the same breed Of promoters and
l managers. especially the latter
} As an example Of what a boxer
| sometimes does through his manager.
{ a letter received by the sport editor
/ Of The Herald is given In toto
Minneapolis. Mimi Feb. Z. 1913.
Sporting Editor The Herald:
FL PasO. Texas
Dear Sir-T am back on the job.
/ training hard every day. and getting
I in shape 10 box every night If bouts
I can be arranged that way for me.
The past year has taught me 2 les
son that all puEilists must learn soon
I er or later. I have become convinced
{ that a boxer cannot follow the prim-
rose path and at the same time keep
[ in proper condition to do himself JUS
I tice in the ring
It cost me a lot Of prestige and
money to learn this lesson. but be-
lieve me Il has soaked en- very deep.
However. / am only q years old. al
an age when ali good boxers beSiu
their careers. have been leading
the simple life on my farm outside OF
St Paul since last September. and the
Z regular hours, good wholesome food
and outdoor work have done wonders
for me began my training IN
Minneapolis gymnasium January !.
and am now feeling better than at
any time since 7 started boxing
Nv poor showing last year was due
TO the fact that 7 paid more attention
to the bright lights than I did 20 my
ring affairs
I boxed some OF the toughest boys
in my class when I should have been
in a hospital. and went through with
fights without any training whatever.
and the results Of same were nothing
more than could have been expected.
But that is all over now. and I am
starting out new and right Working
as naver did before, 7 am stronger.
boxing better and hitting harder than
at any time in my life. and IN two
weeks more time / viii be ready FOR
the best Of them
7 am out now 20 beat the best man
IN the bautamweight division. Pete
Herman, for the title However. I
am not asking a match from him at
this time, but VIII force him into one
before many months have rolled by.
as 7 fully intend 10 battle my Way
through the whole bunch to a match
fob the bantamweight crown
have signed a contract with Nike
z. Collins, Of Minneapolis He viii
do all my business IN the future And
box every night II bouts can be ar
ranged
Sincerely thanking you FOR all past
favors in time gone by. and hoping 10
see you soon. with best wishes. I am,
Yours very truly. Johnny Ertla.
me letter AeaA OH AAlA the aA0h z
missive was written Is as follows:
Johnny Ertle. eN-bantamweight
champion Of the world. Ready 10 box
every night, no choice OF opponents.
Under the management Of Mike Col
Inns"
Think Of such a statement as The
last year has taught me a lesson that
all pugilists must learn sooner or
later" No doubt the whole letter
was written by Mike Collins II IS
extremely doubtful II ErtIe signed or
even saw f. In the above statement
Collins goes on the theory that all
boxers are a dissipatinE set and must
all sooner or later learn what his pro-
tege Ertle has learned after playing
the pro0igate- Is IL any wonder that
the game suffers with such men as
Ertle and Collins permitted to play a
prominent part I'm the game?
However. the promising thing
about boxing f. that there has
been an Influx of clean diving
boxers who viii not stand for the
game TO be mussed up any more
than any sensible fan will stand
for management of the game by
the species who make II notOrl-
Gus.
The time for Johnny Ertle TO have
lived decently was while he still re-
tanned the wonderful physique that
nature gave him. II he had followed I
that course he would not need now
to further corrupt and stain the game |
he has already dragged into the slime |
by his dissipation. by rank promises. !
Must Pay the BIT.
This letter is sent out in form OF a /
confession, asking forgiveness Of fans. /
The fans may forgive MIN for paying I
more attention TO the bright lights /
han I did to my ring affairs" but !
he must settle his bin with Old Moth !
r Nature 10 the last cent The fans
nay give him a chance. but he viii /
ever box as he could have done had l
le appreciated his heritage OF a sound /
body. Nor viii he ever be champion. |
Lacks Common Sense.
Why should the public have any
faith in a boxer who admits that he /
has so little horse sense as 10 meet |
some OF the toughest boys In my /
class when I should have been IN a /
fospital2' Why should the public /
have any faith in the senseless course /
Of fighting without any training |
whatever" Such dishonesty to fans /
who pay good money is objectionable. /
And think Of "A manager who
naunts the fact that his proteEe
lacks the common sense that any
ordinary boy OF l. years employs
in life.
Ertle says through his mouthplece |
or maybe IL is just Collins talking |
that -he viii be ready to box every 1
night II bouts can be arranged" Fine /
stuff. That is the way fans are /
neeced OF their money about half the /
timely seeing some alleged cham /
piOn like Ertle box every night. If 4
the bouts were at a reasonable dis /
lance OF time apart the public might /
see something worth while But the I
managers arrange a program for /
every night and the public gets rotten ]