The New York herald., 1921-08-07

of the contest, the judges in bouts in this
city have confined themselves 10 casting
UP the points as between the contestants
In recent years the foul has become
most important feature ol bouts in
which champions or prominent boxers
are principals. In fact, foul blows. real
or alleged, were the deciding factors in
the most important bouts engaged in by
Wilson since he got the title away from
Mike O'Dowd. The referee in each case
was in a position to turn the decision
one way or the other by his ruling. and
in each instance the advantage went to
the Boston man.
Unfortunate state of Affairs.
AS result Of this unfortunate state OF
AFFAIRS, the spectators OF the Wilson
O'Dowd bout in Madison Square Garden
saw a referee calmly watching Wilson. as
the titleholder battered O'Dowd below
the belt round after round. and never
calling halt on the illegal tactics.
Even the fact that O'Dowd went to hos
pital few days after the contest and
submitted to a serious operation, and has
not been able to box a round since his in
jury did not seem to make any impress
sion on the members of the Boxing Com
mission.
Again in the Cleveland contest between
Wilson and Downey, the roul blow again
made its appearance and again came to
the rescue of Wilson. In this instance.
wilson was declared by the referee (im-
ported by Wilson, to be the victim OF a
FOUL blow at a time when the titleholder
was on the floor for the third time in the
seventh round. and was helpless from
blows on the Jaw delivered by Downey.
Thus 1t would appear that the power
or the referee to decide as to foul blows
IS the most dangerous privilege that the
official possesses
In cases where judges act, II should
De obligatory on them TO call the atten-
ton OF the referee to foul blows and to
insist on action by him. AT least 4
dozen men qualified by eyesight and
knowledge Of boxing who sat at the
ringside during the Wilson-O'Dowd
fight saw Wilson deliver from two to
four foul blows, and yet the only action
taken by Referee McAvoy was a mild
reprimand to the Bostonian.
In localities where decisions are pro-
hibited and there are no judges. the sit
uation is more difficult The Cleveland
com mission met the problem BY appoint
ing two of its members to act as judges,
and they promptly overturned the de-
cision of Wilson's referee and declared
Downey the winner.
ConhmhssiOh ms rover TO OverruIe
The Cleveland Commission also main
tsined that it had the power to overrule
a verdict by referee, and would exer-
else that right.
The Massachusetts, Commission takes
an opposite stand, and declares that the
referee is supreme after the gong opens
the first round of a contest. The Massa-
chusetts officials are under the impress
a a.
rules still are in force. Under the Lon
don rules the referee was supreme and
his decision was irrevocable, but the
London rules and the Queensberry rules
are obsolete. and are not now enforced
in any part OF the world
Boxing in Europe is governed by the
rules Of the International Boxing Union.
and in America commission rules govern,
nearly all codes being patterned after the
Walker law regulations. which were
formulated by a committee OF the Inter
national Sporting Club.
The Walker law provides that the
commission be vested with the sole
direction. management, control and
jurisdiction over all boxing and sparring
matches ia New York state" Under
the rules the referee has general supet-
vision OF bouts" and there is not a word
20 tho effect that his decisions are ire
vocable.
On the contrary, It would appear that
tie powers Of the commission are such
as to Justify It In oyerruling a referee
where the latter apparently has erred
The former commission did SO, but the
nresent body seems to take the ground
that the referees ruling is final. As
there are two judges in New York, action
by the commission is not Imperative, but
tn localities where there are no ju@e,Af
there should be revision OF a referees
decision by the commisec-a,
Resultant Evils.
In no branch of sport except boxing
are the decisions OF referees. judges or
other officials irrevocable.
In baseball there are two umpires 70
r-iard against mistakes and frequently
one of the umpires who has made q
ruling on n play IN which the question
was one OF fact has consulted his fellow
umpire and has reversed his decision.
on questions OF rule or baseball law
the decisions OF umpires are frequently
reviewed by league presidents and re-
versed. This Is strong argument
against one man being empowered to
make decisions that cannot be reviewed.
The evils resultant from the power
held by boxing referees have been mani
fold, and the records OF the ring are full
of atrociously unjust decisions. Incom-
petent or dishonest referees have de-
prived victors Of their dues in many OF
the most important ring engagements In
history and have frequently saved de-
feated champions from the loss of their
titles.
A most hagrant example was fur
nirhed in the bout between John G.
Hcenan. American champion, and Tom
Sayers, British champion. They met at
Farnborough. England. April IL, 1860.