The New York herald., 1921-08-03
Refuse to Permit Ringmen to
Settle Their Dispute in
This State.
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

| Solomon. King OF Israel, was noted
| for the wisdom with which he decided
controversies, but it is questionable II
| sightedness, discernment and justice
| equalled the ruling recorded yesterday
| afternoon by the New York Boxipg
! Commission in the case of William
Bryan Downey against Johnny Wilson.
| Messrs. Wilson and Downey recently
met In a ring contest in Cleveland. and
while Wilson was most brutally NAL
| treated by Downey, yet the referee de-
| claI ed Wilson the winner. Downey ana
his manager. Jimmy Dunn. arrived In
| this city yesterday intent on submitting
| the matter to the local boxing solons.
| but the board took action without watt
| Ing 10 hear the argument of the West
ern boxer.
After considering the subject the fol-
| lowing edict was issued:
Because of the trouble that fight
caused, both by its decision and the
alleged chickering's since. and because
the New York State Commission wishes
to uphold the local Cleveland Boxing
Commission, the two fighters have been
refused a license TO box within this
State until the Cleveland authorities lift
the ban upon them there.
"It is the opinion of the commission
that they should take no official action
concerning the contest In Cleveland be-
tween Wilson and Downey. 1T is the
custom of this commission to abide by
the decisions of their referees.
I'VE allow no one TO referee in this
State who Is not licensed. and besides
that he must be resident OF the State
and citizen of the United states, and
he must be qualified In every way to
f,,If ha ~
it happen in their Judgment that the
referee proves unequal to the demands,
and his decisions are unsatisfactory to
the public and the commission, his
license will be revoked. But. while q
referee is operating under the privilege
OF this license, his decisions. together
with the decisions of the judges, must
be final.
1T was pointed out that, because of
this stand on the part of the commits
sion, the two fighters named will not be
permitted % box in this State until the
commission in Cleveland allows them to
renew boxing there.
"In other words, Wilton and Downey
cannot box here until that match Is de-
cided in an equitable and satisfactory
manner"
II would appear from the above state
ment that the learned members or tne
New York commission hold the belief
that Downey and Wilson have been sus-
pended by the Cleveland commission.
which suspension is to be upheld by
the local board. The New York COM
mission has been misinformed. The
only action taken by the Cleveland
commission was TO reverse the decision
of Jimmy Gardner. Wilson's private ref
cree. and to declare Downey the winner
by knockout 10 follows as q matter OF
course when the New York commission
learns of its mistake 1t VIII at once
give Downey and Wilson permission to
box In this State.
Another slight error on the part OF
the New York commission Is the asser-
ton that It Is their custom TO abide by
the decision OF their referees. Packey
O'Gatty and Roy Moore We're boxing In
the Pioneer s. c. few months ago
when the referee. Ed. Pollock, stopped
the contest and awarded the decision 70