The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Picture of Savagery Ends With
Round Thirteen, Omitting
Important Scenes.
BY CHARLES F. MATHrsoN.

ny CHAHLEs ~. MATdlsONs
The thirteenth round of the Leonard
yelling contest furnished gentleman
OF anti-boxing tendencies with a text
for sermon on what he regards as the
forrifying brutality OF the sport. Dwell
ing tearfully on the pitiful condition Of
yelling at the close of the thirteenth
round, the sermonizer declares such a
spectacle is proof of decadent civiliza-
ton. as the sole attraction for the spec
tators was an exhibition OF savage
cruelty.
The picture assuredly puts boxing In
an unfavorable light, but in combining
his attentions to the close of the thir-
teenth round the critic was not only
guilty of an anticlimax, but he lost
golden opportunity to comment on what
took place In the fourteenth round and
thereafter. He could have described
Welling's still weak condition and how
Leonard made vigorous efforts to floor
his opponent for the final count.
Then came the action Of the referee In
stopping the contest In order to save
yelling from further punishment. This
action by the referee was taken In ac-
cordance with the humane provisions OF
the Walker law, which require the third
man In the ring to bring to close a
contest In which one of the boxers is
overmatched or Is unable to protect him
self Boxing rules. both professional and
amateur, contain this humane require
ment How many other forms OF rough
sport can be mentioned in which similar
rules are enforced?
! welling's Bravery.
Following the action Of the referee in
stopping the contest. the brutality theory
received another jolt yelling. whose
condition as pictured at the close OF
| the thirteenth round, warranted the be-
lief that he would be carted In an
ambulance to the nearest hospital. sud
denly lost the appearance Of impending
dissolution and returned to physical
normalcy. Striding to the referee, Well
ing protested vigorously against the
stopping of the bout. He declared he
was strong enough to continue indefi-
nately, and secuted the idea that Leon
ard could hit hard enough to stop him.
yelling was very angry over the
referees decision to stop the contest and
left the ring in q huff. Half an hour
later yelling in his street clothes left
the Garden, walking jauntlly to walt
ing taxicab. There was not mark on
him to indicate he had been boxing. ana
ne will be prepared in week or two
! for his next contest.
Where the tender hearted moralists
who decry boxing err is in jumping to
the conclusion that because boxer
may receive a few blows that make
him unsteady, or which draw blood. he
is In danger of complete annihilation.
There have been hundreds of cases in
which boxer has received blow in the
first round that has made him unsteady
on his legs and apparently spelled de-
feat for him. yet he has recovered from
\ the effects OF the punishment and con-
tinued the battle to an ultimate victory
for himself.
AT the Same t'r1e heavy blows landed
near the Close " stipulated number
of rounds. when each contestant nee
essarily feels the strain of battle, are
apt to be more damaging and the ref
cree OF the Leonard yelling bout took
the proper action. This, without refer
ence to the fact that subsequent events
proved yelling was in no danger OF
serious injury at any stage OF the COM
bat.