The New York herald., 1921-03-26
General Demand for Corrective
Action by Boxing
Board.
ny CHARLES +. MATHIsoN.

AiiiiOusH ali tie OHiOohtTS III -naLiSc'
Square Garden on March IT saw the low
blows struck by Wilson and observed
their weakening effect on ODowd, few
realized how seriously the former cham
pion had been injured till 1t became
known that he had submitted to sur
gical operation due to the foul tactics
OF his opponent.
When the true condition of O'Dowd
became known the greatest Indignation
was expressed by patrons Of boxing all
over the city.
Amazement has been expressed by
many that O'Dowd, considering the pain
fu, injuries inflicted on him, was able to
keep on his feet and make gallant
fight for fifteen rounds
Astonishment is also expressed that
the ring officials, with the single excep-
ton of Jack Roulet, failed to penalize
Wilson. and that the Boxing Commits
sion up to date has failed to reverse the
decision in favor of the title holder.
The writer is in daily receipt Of large
numbers of communications commend
irg the stand taken in favor of justice
for all boxers, be they preliminary boys
OF champions.
The writer has but one object in view
and that is to bring the Boxing Commits
sion to realization of the fact that
there Is no hope of stability for the sport
if prominent offenders against the rules
are to escape punishment, while the
small fry violators are handled with the
utmost severity.
In no way could the Boxing Commits
sion have assured greater solidity to the
sport and intrenched themselves in the
esteem of patrons than by making an
example of Wilson and the officials
whose incompetency made possible the
travesty on justice of March IT.
Among the many letters received are
tho following samples. Joseph w. Car
inc writes as follows:
IT have been reading with interest your
articles written in the sporting page Of
THE NEW YORK HERALD regarding the
Wilson bout.
II want to congratulate you on the
way you have upheld O'Dowd. II others
would keep this argument before the
public think there would be different
story to tell as to who is the real mid.
Gltweight champion"
A well known follower Of ring events,
who requests that his name be not used,
writes:
"Your article in THE NEW YORK HER
AID this morning is one Of the cIcarest
and best descriptions of whn. occurred
night, week ago. and / trust you will
not let the matter sleep until you have
brought about a complete and satisfac-
tory settlement OF the title fought for
by ODowd and Wilson.
1T would be carrying Goals to New
castle IL were to so into the thing any
deeper, after reading your article. for
you have said all that can be said on
the matter in defence of your position.
and said it so clearly. so pointedly and
so decisively that even the judges and
the referee must acknowledge the truth
OF the story. / have never missed a
big fight since the Mitchell-Sullivan
fight. and I assure you that / am with
you heart and soul in your desire to do
justice to O'Dowd, and you may accept
| this letter as q. further Endorsement OF
myself and my many friends who are
also fight fans. and who know / am
writing this letter."
Henry Schmidt of 4S4 Harmon street.
Brooklyn, writes:
with reference to the recent Wilson,
| O'Dowd scrap. r cannot for the life
OF me figure how any man at the ring
| side could have given any other de-
cision than that ODowd had decisively
beaten the titleholder, who had his hon.
| ors preserved by the rankest decision
that was probably ever given against
any fighter. Championship or no cham
pionship, it is the most important duty
of referee that each rule be observed
by both boxers, and when one ignores
the rules repeatedly, as did Wilson (who
no doubt realized his titular honors
were not on too firm a foundation). 20
disqualify the guilty one.
Johnny Wilson never was OF cham
I pionship calibre--is far from being SO
now-and does not show that there are
any prospects of his ever being so.
and certainly he was beaten for the
honors by one who indeed did not get
square deal. Moreover. had he the
qualifications of title holder 1t should
have been an easy thing for him to
knock Mike out after weakening him
by employing foul tactics repeatedly,
but II takes a better man than he
proved himself to be. True enough,
ODowd is not Ketchel by any means,
but Wilson is just as far, If not farther.
from being an O'Dowd, as the latter Is
from being in the class OF Stanley
Ketchel.
But the crown to-day should be rest
ing on O'Dowd's top-piece, and the
Boxing Commission should feel itself
duty bound to reverse the outrageous
decision which permits Wilson TO mas
querade in the role OF a champ. when
at best he is only a second-rater. and
that is giving liberal Judgment
John w SNYDER prornotar opd bafaI