The New York herald., 1921-03-25
Opinion Quite General That
Drastic Action is
Necessary.
ny CHARLES #. MATHIsoN.

The announcement that Mike O'Dowd
was IN hospital recovering from an
operation for hernia due TO foul blows
he received In his contest with Johnny
I Wilson caused a sensation in boxing
circles. Among those VINO patronize
ring entertainments the opinion was
4 general that tho RoNi Comm esicY
would be compelled to take action In tho
premises of Tie s.eufl noUiG aritet
II serious slump.
The apparent policy Of the Boxing
\ Commission In dealing out severe pun
ishment to small fry offenders and per-
\ mitting important culprits to violate
4 cardinal rules with inpunity was
strongly censured. a continuance Of
produce loss Of confidence In the
supporters of the pastime.
The fact that the Boxing Commission
I physician certified previous to the con-
test that ODowd was in perfect physi-
cal condition leaves no loophoe for es-
cape from the conviction that Wilson's
low blows did the damage.
The suggestion that blows that landed
/ above the belt could have caused the
injury from which O'Dowd suffers is too
/ childish for an instant's consideration.
Had Wilson struck one low blow and
then raised his aim. as he was in
Y structed to do by the referee, 1t might
\ lave been attributed to accident. But
when Wilson continued to hit the un-
| fortunate O'Dowd below the belt round
after round, without the slightest re-
I monstrance from the referee, the anair
/ took on a serious aspect One reputable
4 eye witness counted a dozen foul blows.
There never was any doubt that
! ODowd was outpointing the title holder,
and 1t appears the Boetonian felt thaI
in order to retain his championship he
would be compelled to apply weakening
blows tc the fighting Irishman.
1t is noteworthy that in the Boston
contest Wilson failed signally to make
any impression on ODowd. and while
Wilson received the decision on points
the New Yorker was fighting valiantly
at the sound Of the final gong.
Expression of opinion by boxing en-
thusiasts as to the solution of the at
! fair was 20 the effect:
Reversal of the action of Judge
ShortelI and Referee McAvoy giving
decision to Wilson.
Revocation of the licenses OF Me-
! Ayoy and ShOrten.
Indefinite suspension of wilson for
his foul tactics.
AS Rickard has paid Wilson the
amount guaranteed to him, 1t Is too late
for the commission to do anything In
that direction, although II is customary
in cases of suspension of insignificant
violators OF the rules to withhold the
compensation of the offenders
Pete Herman scored comparatively
easy victory over Jimmy Wilde in Lon
don and has determined to go across
the pond for another victim. This is
Jim Higgins, the bantam champion of
Great Britain, and Herman announces
he will sail next month in quest of
bout with Higgins.
AS Wilde has signed for match with
Higgins for the bantam title, II may be
that Herman will have to get another
match with the midget in order to corral
the bantam honors.
All this activity on the part of Her
man has to do with a return match
with Joe Lynch for the worlds bantam
championship. In addition to his Eng
lish invasion, Herman plans 10 meet
every high class bantam In America and
thus work his way up to a match with
Lynch.
John Pesek, the Nebraska Tiger. who
is matched to meet the worlds cham
pion on April 4 at the Seventy-first
Regiment Armory, wants the followers
of wrestling to know that It was not his
suggestion that the head lock was pro-
hibited. Pesek is satisfied he will be
able TO hold his own with Lewis even IL
the latter uses his crushing hold. and Is
| figuring upon demanding another match
with Lewis In which the latter can use
his head lock.
The Pennsylvania House OF Repre-
sentatives yesterday passed bin pro-
vidlng for a State boxing commission
The measure now goes to the Senate.
Stranger Lewis, the worlds wrestling
champion purchased an aeroplane ut
Wichita Falls, Kan. last week and is
learning how TO manage the machine.
Lewis has an engagement to wrestle
John Pesek at the Seventy-first Regf-
ment Armory on April e. Under the
agreement Lewis will not use the head
lock.
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