Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-15

Ing, IL may De tHdt IanS OF the glove
game in and around Omaha need
not be entirely without boxing, afte,
all. The officers at Fort Omaha are
all clean sport lovers and despite thu
recent disappointment when Johnny
Lee so flagrantly violated all laws
of craftsmanship in his bout with
Harry Williams, those officers may
be prevailed upon to stage some
more bouts at the post this fall
1t may also be arranged for pro-
perly conducted boxing shows to be
held in Council Bluffs, easily
reached by Omaha fans on the
street cars. Al Fiori, prominent in
business circles in the city across
the river and also the pioneer wres-
thing promoter Of the Bluffs, may
soon secure a permit from the
mayor to stage boxing shows, if the
official can be shown that the bouts
can be conducted in clean manner
and that enough Bluffs people en-
Joy this kind of entertainment.
Mayor Zurmuehlin is real sport
fan himself. He is a regular at
tendant at all the Council Bluffs
base ball games and wrestling
matches and Fiori is certain that he
will give him the permission for
boxing shows at the Auditorium.
The promoter has promised the
mayor that he will stage nothing
but high class events and see to it
that nothing is done in the ring that
will offend the most fastidious fan.
He will insist on all contestants be-
ing on the grounds at least 48 hours
in advance of each show in order
to show that he is in proper physical
condition to take part in a contest.
Rules that provide for the clean
est kind of boxing are being consid-
cred by Fiori and his associates,
who have had considerable expert
ence in promoting such events.
Coaching from the corners will be
prohibited, and other detractors OF
spectators enjoyment will be barred
In all, the shows will be modelled
after those given for the soldiers in
the various army camps under the
auspices of the Commission on
Training Camp Activities.
There are number of boxers in
Council Bluffs and Omaha that
should make good cards for the
Bluffs shows, and they will probably
get opportunities to display their
wares over there. Des Moines, Wa
terloo, Cedar Rapids and a number
of other Iowa cities permit boxing
and there is no valid reason why
Council Bluffs should not be per-
mitted to stage such entertainment,
especially under such rules as Fiori
has in mind. The contests in
Council Bluffs would be as good or
better and the arrangements for the
comfort of patrons would be as fine
as in any OF these other towns.
In order to show the officials oi
his city that he doesn't want the
boxing game in the Bluffs entirely
for his own profit, Fiori has offered
to pay the city 10 per cent CON-
mission of the proceeds from each
show, something that is not done
in any of the Iowa cities where the
game is permitted. The commission
would be no small item, considering
HE number of fans good card a
boxing bouts would attract. The
recent show at Fort Omaha, al
which there were over $500 adnlis-
s;ons, is worth considering when in
doubt as to whether boxing shows
would draw or not.
1t is to be hoped that Fiori car
make Mayor Zurmuehlin see the
light and pursuade him to give it a
trial at any rate. Iowa and Ne
braska boxing bugs" will be glad
of the chance to see some high class
bouts and they will make the pat.
ronage of such shows worth while
The first show would probably draw
$500 or $4,000 and the boxers who
work in the initial performance
would receive good sized purse ior
their efforts.