The New York herald., 1921-03-24
Middleweight Boxer Operated
On in Hospital for Severe
Case Of Hernia.
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

BY CHARLES f. MATHISON.
| Indisputable proof that Johnny Will
| son, worlds middleweight champion.
struck number of foul blows during
| his bout with Mike O'Dowd in Madison
| Square Garden last Thursday night was
| furnished yesterday afternoon when
O'Dowd was operated on for hernia In
| ST. Johns Hospital. Long Island City.
DR.. Henry v. Spaulding of GAS West
End avenue. this city, performed the
operation, which was entirely success
full DR.. Spaulding said the patient
would be confined to the hospital for
two weeks and would not be able to
| engage actively in boxing for three
months.
When DR.. Spaulding was questioned
by the writer in reference to the injury
to O'Dowd he replied:
"O'Dowd came TO me last Saturday,
said he did not feel well and asked for
an examination. 1 made thorough
examination, at the conclusion of which
l said to him: You are suffering from
rupture and will have to undergo an
operation
'O'Dowd was startled by the discovery
and said he knew he had been hurt in
the groin but did not think II was so
serious. at once made arrangements for
him to go to st. John's Hospital where
he underwent preliminary treatment. ]
performed the operation this afternoon
and 1t was successful. O'Dowd has a
wonderful constitution and his stamina
and vitality are remarkable or he never
would have been able to keep on his
rect Tor nearly two days while suffering
from well developed case of hernia"
Replying to the query as to whether
the injury was OF recent origin. Dr.
Spaulding said:
Injury of Recent Date.
obviously the injury was of recent
GATE. ODowd when mustered out Of
the army was pronounced sound phys-
1cally and the club physician of the
Madison Square Garden Sporting Club.
VINO examined him previous to the bout
with Wilson, also declared him to be In
perfect physical condition. Therefore
IL is obvious that the injury was re-
ceived during his bout with Wilson.
Il found several Jumps in each groin,
due to blows, and less rugged man
than O'Dowd would have collapsed from
their effect. AS result of the injury
ODowd will be laid up two weeks. and
he VIII be out of the ring for at least
three months. Due to his splendid physi-
cal resources ODowd quickly recovered
from the effects of the operation and
VIII In time be as good as ever"
The superintendent Of st. Johns Hos
pital Long Island City, when questioned
as to the condition OF ODowd, replied
that he was resting easily and seemed
to be In good condition.
The testimony Of DR.. Spaulding and
the hospital authorities to the effect
that O'Dowd was so severely injured
ha ~
| cessitate an operation for hernia will
| probably convince the New York Box
ing Commission, Referee Johnny Nc
Avoy and Judge Tommy Shortell that
they were seriously In error in de-
Gliding that O'Dowd had been fairly de-
feated by the Boston boxer 1t is a
sharp commentary on the ability of Nc
Avoy and Shortell to distinguish be-
tween foul and fair blows. and 1t is a
reflection on the judgment of Commits
sioners Lawrence Mcclure, Walter c.
Hooke and Secretary Charles White
who witnessed the bout, that they should
sit at the ringside and permit so fla
grant violation of rules to proceed
under their eyes without even protest
The Boxing Commission OF New York
State are now confronted with situation
that brings to them much embarrass-
ment. They are in a position where they
are called upon to reverse the decision
of Judge Shortell and Referee McAvoy
or stultify themselves in the eyes of all
fairminded patrons of the sport of box
ing.
Have Set n Precedent.
There is no escape for the Boxing
Commission from this predcament, as
they have already set a precedent under
which they can reverse the decision of q
referee or judges
Roy Moore ard Packy O'Gatty were
engaged in a bout in the Pioneer Sport
ing Club several weeks ago, and O'Gatty,
after being knocked down, claimed a
foul, which was allowed by Referee Ed
Pollock. The Boxing Commission set on
foot an investigation which convinced
that body that O'Gatty had not been
fouled, whereupon the commission not
only reversed the decision of Referee
Pollock but suspended O'Gatty. his man
ager. Jimmy Twyford, and the referee
for various periods OF time. In the case
of Moore the commission declared he
had been unjustly charged with foul
hitting and ordered that he receive the
compensation agreed on.
Therefore, II the Boxing Commission
have the authority to absolve a boxer
from the imputation OF fouling as con-
the power to reverse the decision of a ref
cree in the case OF a boxer whose foul
blows send an opponent to hospital for
an operation for hernia
The authority conferred on the COM
mission by the Walker law enabled tho
board to reverse a decision In the bout
of O'Gatty and Moore, and the same
authority will permit the commission to
reverse the decision in the bout between
Wilson and O'Dowd.
Comm ission's Powers.
Section Of the Walker law provides
that ''the commission shall have and Is
hereby vested with the sole direction,
management, control and Jurisdiction
over all boxing or sparring matches and
exhibitions to be conducted within the
State Of New York"
Rule "a of the regulations adopted by
the commission for the government OF
the sport follows:
Nothing in these rules Is deemed TO
restrict the powers OF the commission In
CJTN1 ME- NY g