The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1921-01-19
BOXING GAINS
GREAT IMPETUS
Reports Are Received Daily At ANA
teur Headquarters Regarding
Same.
Associated Press

NEW YORK, Jan. 19-Among the
many sports under the jurisdiction of |
the Amateur Athletic Union, which
have received the benefit of revived |
interest and popular support since
the overseas soldier athletes and
Olympic champions returned to the
United States, none seems to have
been given a greater impetus than
boxing. From every division through
out the country reports are being re-
ceived daily at Amateur Athletic
headquarters here giving unqualified
assurance of the popularity of box
ing in all sections. Arrangements for
tournaments with the prospect Of
bringing about a series of interstate
and intersectional glove contests, are
now being perfected in the hope that
before the end of this year nation
al championship meeting of the best
men available in every class, from
heavyweights to the bantams, may be
brought to successful issue.
Renewed interest in this branch Of
athletics is not confined to national
contests alone. The recent arrival OF
| English boxers, representing the Brit
| ish Army and Navy and the London
Police force, to compete with anna
teur glove wielders representing the
| United States Army and Navy and
the New York Police Department
marks the beginning of movement
which promises to develop annual or
seni-annual international contests IN
which other European countries will
supply competitors in the near future
| No better indication of the firm
hold which amateur boxing bouts have
Ion the followers of the sport could
| he piyen than the unusually large at
| tendance which the New York State
Championship bouts attracted to the
Madison Square Garden here TINS
month. The tournament at first was
to be a two night affair but 50 many
entries were received the officials
were compelled to extend the time
and three nights were required II
order to complete the program OF 10
houts From an attendance stand
point the tournament was wonderfully
we'll patronized, in fact no such crowd'
have gathered here at similar exhi'
bitions in the last quarter OF cen
turv. The number of spectators eacf
night greatly exceeded the generous
gatherings which witnessed amateur
: boxing, when the sport enjoyed it,
7 halcyon days many years ago at th'
: Metropolitan Opera House and th'
E big Brooklyn skating rink.
E A more pretentious program is nov
being prepared by the metropolitan
Amateur Athletic Union officials 10
an intercity tournament between box
| ars representing clubs in Eastern AM
Middle Western cities. Madison
Square Garden has been secured 10
February % and "a for these bout
! and it is hoped that the added al
traction of competitors from oleVe
" land. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Bosto'
! and other cities will draw capacit
crowds to the big arena.
The New England Association
also busily engaged in the promotio
If intercity boxing contests and Tn
division championships the dates to
! which have yet tobe selected.
From Pittsburgh, Cleveland Cir
cinnati. st. Louis and New orleaf
= I, reuorts are being received of the pf'
;. press of the sport in those center
- with assurances that Splendid cro
of new boxers from these sectlor
: will be seen in the National Chan
- oionship events at Boston.
In preparation for the Southern a.
sociation's Championships which WI
be held at Birmingham, Ala on Ma
= ID and Is, bouts are being held wee
- lv in the cities in that division.