The New York herald., 1921-08-09
Regulations as to Weights
Altered Despite Terms of
Walker Law Forbid.
ny CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

ny CHARLES II. MATHISON.
Unless the Walker law has been
amended in an important particular
since the new commission took Office,
the members of the board are assuming
powers not conferred on them by the
statute. The commission recently made
announcement that It had changed the
weight rules under the Walker law as
follows;
''Flyweight liz pounds or under. al
lowing opponent 6 pounds. Bantam
weight, lis or under, allowing opponent
pounds. Featherweight, 126 or under,
allowing opponent . pounds. Lightweight.
l35 or under. allowing opponent IL
pounds. Welterweight 147 or under. al
lowing opponent 13 pounds. Middle
weight, 100 or under, allowing opponent
Is pounds. Light heavyweight, It's or
under. allowing opponent 10 pounds.
Heavyweight, all over 175 pounds"
The question as to the merits of the
changes in the weights Is secondary to
that Of the legal right OF the commission
10 make the changes. Section 90 of the
Walker law reads as follows.
THE weights and classes of boxers
and the rules and regulations of boxing
shall be the same as the weights and
classes and rules and regulations adopted
by the Army. Navy and Civilian Board
of Boxing Control Incorporated, and the
international Sporting Club OF New
York. Incorporated"
The rules in question were fomu-
lated by committee appointed by the
international Sporting Club. and are a
part of the Walker law governing boxing
In the State of New York. The Anal
paragraph of the rules reads:
these rules may from time to time
be amended, as the committee OF rules,
weights and classes may deem advis-
able"
Under the circumstances, unless the
commission has the law amended so as
to permit of changes In the rules by
that body any alterations 1t may make
are Illegal
One Absurd Regulation.
1t Is true that the rules should be
amended regarding the difference In
weight between contestants, for owing
TO an error OF transcription a leeway
Of eighteen pounds is permitted. This
is an absurd regulation and should be
wiped out with all possible speed. But
1t should be legally done.
The suggestions of the commission as
to weight differences are quite as absurd
as the present regulation. 1t might as
well be put down as eatchweights. I'm
der the law all weighing is done at
y. NJ. Assuming that one fyweight
makes the class limit OF liz pounds
at 2 T. NJ. and his opponent, taking
pf al
makes lis pounds at that hour the
heavier boy would doubtless scale 122
pounds at ringtime. In the event Of
the lighter boxer not taking on more
than pound or two additional weight
the bout would be one between a fly
weight and featherweight.
The same would apply to the bantam
and feather classes, and the only real
solution of the problem is TO compel
all contestants to make the class weight
at r. NJ. II they cannot do so. they
should go into the class above.
II the Boxing Commission cannot see
its way clear to having the law amended.
II Is probable that a polite request TO
the International 5. c. to call a meet
ing of the rules committee would be
complied with.
tonight, Mike Gibbons meeting JEFF
Smith in Jersey City and Paul Journee
facing AL Reich at the greensboro 5. G.
Gibbons Is sure to give a good account
OF himself and entertain the spectators.
Smith evidently thinks he is too strong
for the st. Paul Phantom, but he may
be mistaken. 1t should prove to be
an excellent bout, and with good
weather the Armory \. A. is sure to
be filed Journee and Reich are two
of the largest heavyweights In the ring,
and without question two of the slowest.
Yet Journee will ight, and unless Reich
elects to take the defensive there should
be action.
The management of the Boxing Drome,
where the Dundee-White and other good
bouts will be staged tomorrow night,
has decided on a plan to enable patrons
to see the contests and reach their homes
at a reasonable hour. The club will
send Marty Cross and Paul Doyle into
action promptly at s T.. NJ. IL this bout
should go the full route OF ten rounds
Johnny Buff. flyweight champion. and
Charley Ledoux, the bantamweight title
holder OF Europe. will begin their bout
at s so y. NJ. Should the Cross-Doyle
affair end in a knockout Buff and Le-
doux will get together as soon as the
ring Is cleared.
The third battle of the night will be
between Johnny Dundee and Charley
White. The Boxing Commission has
ruled that topliners must start boxing
by 10 o'clock at the latest, but at to-mor-
rev nights show the main event will be
staged ahead of this schedule. The last
event will be staged no later than 10 is.
'rhia will hiring together Young Montreal
and Midget Smith.