Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-29
WILSON CONTINUES
TO Be CHAMPION
Despite Unfair Ruling in DoWney
Fiasco, Referees Verdict
Must Stand
LESSON FOR COMMISSIONS
BY LOUIS il. JAFFE

No matter what the Ohio state Box
ing Commission saws or does, or what
tho howl of ringside critics Is, johnny
Wilson still reigns middlcweight cham-
pion of the world. despite the unlor
tunate ending of his battle on cdn's
day night Mt Cleveland Win Dry @ az
Downey, The referee ruled Wilson vas Vas
fouIed md that Is the official verdict
Cor tho record hooks. Downey Is
claiming the title. but that docsh
mean anything. .u,
According 70 reports cmanating from
Cleveland there hardly was any Houu'
that the Bostonian. who won his ain chnmI
pionship on n questionable de.laiU"
from Mike O'Dowd in his home IoSm
was outclasscd bv Downcy ana IN n
there been an unbiased official IN w
ring the Ohioan would be on the n,.n
dleweight throne today. But appnl
cntlv Wilson made sure he was pro
tected' when he entered the Ting udn
the protection" given by hesra,o sr,,
Jimmy Gardner saved the ltaIiail i'''"
being dethroned. :,
Referee Gardner. it seems, Si,. ShouiL.
have disqualified Wilson immeuiu.e,S
| when Martin Killilca, his mhh"s, L, .
| jumped into the ring ana p.n'.u ,ni Nd
| hands on his man in the seventh ot IN
| Fans now believe Gardner was ho' 40 :"
the ring to be on the up anu "P'
the saying goes in tisticuhS. , n
II was his business, they say ~
SOC thnt Wilson did not get the worst
Of ito see that Downey dld not WI"
Lccisivcy and. Judging from tIle rN g,
pressed opinion Of the Boxing '"rhu'iI
| sion. the referee was not falr Ill hi'
rulinG. ol:.o. of
Henry p. Edwards. sports editor OF OF
the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wires 'na'
Howard Reynolds, sports editor OF ,.!i nIe
| Boston Post, who went along win vi
yon TO cover the alleged champion
bout with Downey, sent story 10 hlS
popcr that the Ohio boxer hau Woh'
and won fairly. ,.,. nc,
Boxing was given another black ey'
by Referee Gardncr's veruCt-N o''I'
goes tn prove further that lISoh' u,
champion, isn't there, ana me soi,.L, soGa.L
a change is made in tn" mlHGieW'isI g.,
championship the better IT Will ue iQ' iG
that particular division. 'oWheE u,'
nor show ANYTHING wondcrful--no cham
pionship Calibcr by any means, III
bout here last year with Augle NaIuer
other than being tough guy.
| The occurrence of this (Iovelah'
tiasco should serve as lesson TOR at
boxing Cpnters where the sport Is Su
perviscd by commissions. Had the ohi'
Commissioners insisted on their ap'
pointed referee, instead of perinittin,s
killilea to bring his own man 70 ON
ciate, the chances are there would have
been no room for argument in the VIC
tory of Downey, and Bryan pr0babl!
would have been crowned tltleholue'
without discussion.
Not only champions, but there ar
other boxers who have been going arount
the country demanding that a certain
referee be used. and in n lot OF case
man has been carried along for tina
purpose. Usually the promoters have
given in. rather thar have the shoV
called off
'If so-and so doesn't referee" i
the cry of the boxer making his owl
referee selection, then | won't box.
In such a case tn" boxer should b
permitted to use his own judgmen
and in the event of his backing out o
! contest then there would be nothing
left to do but bar him from furthc
competition in that particular district
: After one or two banishmcnts undC
such conditions there probably woul
be no more trouble about referees.