South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-13
CHAMPION KILBANE
TELLS WHO SHOULD
REFEREE BIG BOUT
Johnny Says Edgren or era
ney is Best Fitted to be
Third Man.
BY JOHNNIE EILBANE,
FeatherIyeIght ChamDion.

The task of selecting a referee
for the Dempsey-Carpenter fight. in
my opinion. is going to be difficult
one If the New Jersey officials in
sist that a Jerseyman be chosen.
IL, on the other hand. the princi-
pals are given free rein no better
man than Bob Edgren, the stake
holder and general arbiter of con-
ditions surrounding the articles.
could be found. Edgren has been a
student Of boxing for years. has a
cool head. a good eye and keen
judgment and with it the ability
of a trained athletes to get around
the ring. Eddie Graney Of Cali
fornia, probably as finished a ref
cree as ever ordered a pair of
fighters to break and who can toll
off the seconds with the accuracy
of a split-second watch. is another
good man. The late Jack Michigan
of Phils delphia would have been an
other good third man." as he knew
every angle Of the game.
Danger I'm Referees.
The trouble with our referees of
today is that they are chosen more
as a favor than for their ability.
Instead Of being named because they
are merely good fellows and stand
well with the principals and the pro-
moter, their knowledge of the rules,
as they are now interpreted, should
be taken into consideration. The
fact that a man has witnessed many
fights. has hobnobbed with fighters,
managers and promoters does not
make a competent referee Of him.
What is needed is not a big fat
fellow whose sole claim 20 fame Is
based upon the brand Of rum that
he may have sold before the country
dried up and almost blew him away.
but an active man with a ring brain.
Edgren and Graney represent the
highest type Of the latter class.
Few referees Of today know how
to handle the boxers. They have no
right TO tell & boxer when and how
to fight or TO manhandle him in the
clinches. If a boxer is deliberately
running away from fight the ref
cree has the power 10 disqualify
him. but II he showing skill and
generalship in warding off the at
tack OF a dangerous opponent or
playing around for an opening. the
referee has no right TO below TO
him, "Say, kid. II you don't fight
pretty soon I'll throw YOU out OF
the ring"
Nor has the referee the right,
when one man Is holding with both
hand and the other Is fighting with
one free arm 20 grab each by an
arm and tear them apart as though
he were splitting a couple OF sheets
OF sticky flypaper. The man holding
with both hands can be warned and
If he continues 70 offend he can be
disqualified. but there is no need Of
grabbing both men and hurting
them 10 different sides OF the ring.
or. by chance. of turning one man
as 10 leave him in position TO re
ceive a possible Knockout punch
from his opponent.
IF the boxers can De convinced
that the referee means business
when he talks OF disqualification
there Will be little holding. That IS
where Graney shone as a referee.
He never went between the boxers.
In fact. he rarely took his hands
from behind his back. II they were
locked he would saw quietly and
suavely, Now. break Ike gentle
men. boys" and they broke. but II
one failed TO heed the warning he
would say Just as pleasantly 70 the
offender. at the same time tapping
him lightly on the shoulder. II won't |
tell you again 20 break" and the /
boy 10 whom he spoke knew that /
the next ofrense meant disqualin- /