The New York herald., 1921-03-16
Quaker Matchmaker Gracious
ly Cancels Match to Please
Rickard.
by CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

by CHARLES r. MATHISON.
The average promoter of boxing Is so
brusque and flinty In defneanor that
when one of the ilk suddenly exhibits
traits that distinguished Lord Chester
field 1t Is cause for general amazement.
At the same time 1t is a hopeful sign, for
perhaps II the leaven spreads 1t may re-
suit In the development of a breed Of
courtierlike matchmakers whose polite
and courteous manners will transform
the sport of boxing into a truly COM
mendable enterprise
The man who has set the pace in the
matter OF graciousness is Harry d. Ed
wards, a Philadelphia promoter and
matchmaker of the Olympia A. A., one
of the finest boxing clubs in America.
Mr.. Edwards had n verbal agreement
with Willie jackson by which the Har-
lem lightweight was to have met Pete
Hartley at Olympia A. A. next Monday
night. Ordinarily a matchmaker having
verbal agreement with a boxer would
insist on the boxer keeping his word OF
going before the United States Supreme
Court. But Edwards Is not of the Shy
lock brand of manager. and when Tex
Rickard asked the Quaker If he would
not release Jackson so that the latter
could meet Rocky Kansas in Madison
Square Garden next Monday night con-
sent was readily given. Not only did
Edwards yield. but he declared off .he
HartleyJackson bout and thereby put
himself on record as the politest pro-
moter in pugilism Of the present period.
Edwards's action was a boon to Rick
ard, for he was in a predicament re-
garding Kansas, who had originally been
promised a bout with Benny Leonard
March II, provided the Buffalonan won
his last contest with Richie Mitchell.
Kansas complied with the condition, but
Leonard was attacked by tonsillitis and
could not enter the ring. Rickard then
suggested a match between Kansas and
Willie Jackson, and the boxers were
willing Then up bobbed the O'Dowd-
Wilson match and Rickard clinched t.
Kansas complained that he had been
sidetracked and asked for a ruling,
whereupon Rickard solved the problem
through the courtesy OF Edwards. Rick
ard accentuates the new order Of things
by donating the arena and receipts TO
the poor of Ireland
If this wave Of politeness engulfs the
managers of boxers as well as the pro-
moters we shall soon see challenges is
sued in this form:
"Mr One Punch Finerty Graves the
attention OF Mr.. Knockout O'Reilly in
70 a pugilstic encounter. at the Ten
l..
Mr.. Finerty begs to offer Mr.. O'Reilly
assurances Of the highest esteem, both
as to the latters prowess as a boxer
and his irreproachable character Mr..
Finerty doubts his ability to win from
| Mr. O'Reilly, but hopes to make fair
showing"
The present formula regarding chal-
lenscs is as follows.
SAY, If Kid Cracltem, the yellowest
hound that ever put on pair of gloves,
will git into the ring with Young
| Thrasher. the Kid kin have all the
dough. IL he don't leave the joint on a
stretcher."
Yet with a few more exhibitions OF
the Edwards brand OF courtesy, there
may be an uplift in the matter OF
pugilistic ethics.
The most attractive bout on the pro-
| gramme of amateur encounters tonight
at Madison Square Garden will be that
between Archie Walker. Pastime a. ~.
New York State lightweight champion.
and Ben Ponteau, st. Christopher Club.
| METROPOLITAN Association champion.
There has been a big demand for tickets
from Wall Street, where Walker Is en-
ployed at the Stock Exchange. and he
will have a large bunch of rooters on
hand to cheer for him. Ponteau. who is
training at the st. Christopher Clup.
Is In hopes OF reversing the decision
rendered against him when he met wal
ker at the New York State champion
| ships held at Madison Square Garden
/ last January
Besides this bout there will be semi
finals and finals in eight classes, from
the flyweight to the heavyweight, ana
two competitors In each of the classes
will be selected by the Metropohtah
Association to represent this district IN
the national championships which VIII
be held at Boston on April IL and l2.
MIddleweight Champion Johnny VIII
son will arrive in New York to-day from
Charlestown, Mass. to put on the fin
ishing touches TO his three weeks oi
| training for tomorrow nights fight witf
Mike O'Dowd at Madison Square Car
den. Wilson will go to Harlem gym
nasium and box three rounds each Wit
Nate Segal, Young Jack johnson anc
John Lester Johnson.
THE retirement OF Albert Badovd, who
last year was declared by the lnterna
tlonai Boxing Union TO be the weiter'
weight champion OF Europe, simply be
cause he had knocked out Johnny Bas
ham. welter champion of England, sever
years previously, brings TO light soIn'
peculiar incidents In his career. Ba'
doud. who is a Swiss, settled In Parl'
and defeated all the French welters. h'
then went to England and stopped Bas
ham In nine rounds. This made hin
welter champion of Europe.
Badoud later came to America, ant
after a checkered career he met hlo
Lewis in this city August 81, 1917, ant
was knocked out in the first round. a
Lewis had won the American weltel
title from Jack Britton on June 70 2
the same year. Lewiss victory over ia
doud gave the former the worlds title.
Soon after his defeat at the hands 2
Lewis. Badoud returned TO France ant
while he has done little or no boxing, th'
International Boxing Union conferred oi
him the title he now mas resigned ~
the case stands, the weiter championship