Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-01
LOVERS OF BOXING
WANT TO CONTINUE
MANLY ART SPORT
Citizens Express Themselves as
Being in Favor OF Pastime
Under Regulation.
STOPPING BOUTS SURPRISE
BY Harris Samonisky
sports Editor of Every Evening.

interested in the recent action OF the
Directors of Public Safety placing
ban on all boxing bouts in TINS CITY.
The action was n surprise to many
persons. coming, as il did. like bolt
from the clear sky. There had beeh
no complaints for some time ABOUT
the manner in which the bouts were
held. Club officials were as much sur
prised as many of the other devotees
of the glove game.
The statutes of Delaware are speclnc
in the prohibition of prize-fights. Ihere
is no statute. however, regarding box
ing bouts. either permitting them or
prohibiting them One prominent citi-
zen said; "The law must have been
strained to have the bouts stopped on
the grounds that they We're prize
fights"
Boxing bouts have been held off and
on for. many years in this city. The
Warren A. c. used to hold its bouts
in the Opera House thirty years ago
and a number of prominent persons
of this city today. are former members
of this well-known organization Many
bouts were later held at the old Acad-
emy of Music, the site of which is at
present occupied by .he Wilmington
Automobile Co, at Tenth street and
Delaware avenue. The old Rice
foundry. on the site of the present
Y. NJ. c. A.. Building, was the scene of
many bout in the older days. For
several seasons bouts We're held at
Shellpot Park. Then more recently.
Brandywine Springs was the scene OF
a number of bouts.
-. E..rr f1ra sNf ha 4eI
are anxious 10 know what brought the
sudden action on the part of the Di-
rectors of Public Safety. There had
been no intimation of their probable
action, except for n few days before.
Some of the fans declare that the
large number of clubs is one of the
things that precipitated action Rivalry
between the clubs is given as another
cause. Still another is that new
club was being organized with plans
for bringing leading pugilists OF New
York 10 this city. where bouts would
be held.
The action of the Directors Of Pub
lie Safety speaks for itself. Boxing
has been stopped in this city and that
Is all there is 20 1t. There is no use
arguing about it, as it viii not do any
good. But, now is the time for lovers
OF the manly art to get together ana
see that the next Legislature passes
a law that will permit boxing bouts
in this city. There can be no serious
objection TO the holding of bouts,
under proper supervision and regula-
tton and that is exactly what thou
sands Of people of this city want.
one man in this city described box
ing as the least dangerous Of all ath-
letic contests requiring great physical
exertion. He said that boxers must
he In good condition and well matched
He termed football as brutal along
side of boxing.
DIR William Wertenbaker said he is
intensely opposed 10 narrow laws
which are cutting out legitimate
sports tending TO the physical de-
Selopment OF young manhood, as box
ing unquestionably does
Theodore Grant. e15 Market street,
said he believed the boys should be
rermitted TO go on with their boxing
exhibitions MIR Grant has attended a
number of the bouts at the different
clubs in this city and declares that
they have been the most manneriy
and best conducted of any he has
ever seen There is nothing in boxing,
IA. said. that will hurt the morals of
the community He states that he
has seen bouts in a number of other
cities than Wilmington
George W Bader, who has seen
number Of the bouts, and takes much
interest in boxing, says the bouts
should be held and that under the
Tzff haN rsa a
thing He said that the club smokers.
should not be stopped, although he
yarnented the fact hat commercialism
had affected the sport to some extent
in this city.
DIR. Meredith i. Samuel comes out
with a statement to the effect that
boxing is a fine thing and should be
per-mitted He said that lot OF peo-
pie do not want anything. Basing
his statement on his attendance at
some of the bouts he says that they
have been conducted in a clean and
orderly manner.
Another physician of this city says
that II the bouts are permitted to go
on as they have been conducted in
the past. there is nothing wrong with
the sport.
lanes Salisbury has attended a
number of the bouts and declares
they have been conducted in an order
IN manner and that a humber. of city
officials have often attended the bouts
and have voiced their approval of
the sport.
James Hoey is loud j. his praise of
the sport. He says that no prize
ngats have been held in this city and
that none have been held for many
years. The real prize fights, he said,
were held a number of years ago,
when the participants exchanged
blows with either bare knuckles or
with skin-tight gloves.
Alexander J. Butler who has at
tended a number of the shows at the
various clubs, says that at all times
they have been o. X. He thinks 1t is
a relaxation for the business man
after business hours, las well as tend
ing for the development of young men.
He said that he had become accus-
toned To attending the weekly bouts
and looked upon them as a pleasant
feature. When attending these shows.
he. said that he has always felt that
he was safe among representative
people of the city. He said he has
never seen any bout carried on to the
........ Of b.,4t1lffy the bolIfS have