The New York herald., 1921-02-12
MOUTH GUARD IS
DECLARED ILLEGAL
Boxing Commission Prohibits
It's Use in Bouts in This
State.
By CHARLES r.. MATHIsON.

Kid Lewis. Eddie Wallace and other
boxers who have been In the habit of
using rubber shock absorbers between
their teeth as a means of neutralizing
knockout punches delivered by oppo-
nents will not be permitted to again
wear the guards In bouts In this State.
This was the dictum Of the Boxing
Commission after cross-examining Brit
ton, Lewis and others connected with
the bout at Madison Square Garden last
Monoday night. Britton went to Lewis s
corner between the second and third
rounds. protested to Lewis against ths
mouthpiece I'd then struck Zelig Good
man. chief second for Lewis. This
brought the question of the use of the
guard sharply to the attention of the
commission. and they made a ruling
against it. In their official announce
ment the commission made this point:
THE New York State Boxing Com
mission interprets Rule of the official
boxing rules incorporated in the Walker
boxing law to prohibit the use of a rub
ber mouthpiece or other device. Ref
erees, boxers and all clubs are accord
ingly notified that only those articles
Of apparel and protection as specified in
Section will be permitted at boxing
contests held under the Jurisdiction of
the commission"
The commission reserved decision re-
garding disciplinary action In regard to
Britton, Lewis and Goodman.
Rules Forbid Guard.
The commission Is entirely justified In
interpreting Section of the rules as
prohibiting the use Of rubber mouth
guards. The third clause of that section
reads as follows:
THE use of grease or other substances
which might handicap an opponent is
prohibited"
The term "other substances" includes
rubber. and as a mouth guard Of rubber
certainly handicaps an opposing boxer 1t
is right that the wearing of the pro-
tective rubber should be prohibite
When the rules committee of the In
ternational Sporting Club formulated the
regulations that now are part of the
Walker law an effort was made by
member of the committee to have ncor-
porated a clause permitting the use Of
rubber mouth guards, but II was voted
down. This acton indicated that the
committee was opposed to the practice.
So Ter as the Interpretation of the rule
Is concerned, the commissions action is
most commendable and will prevent un-
pleasant scenes like that which marred
the Lewis Britton contest.
Regarding disciplinary action, the
commission shows disposition to dodge
its responsibilities. Ii is of minor i'm
portance that Britton was angered by
Lewis's refusal to remove the guard
from his mouth. or that Lewis, irritated
by the blow that landed on his chief
second, tried to strike Britton The
boxers and the second have admitted
their offence, which consisted of rowdy-
ism in the presence of q large and rep
resentative crowd in the greatest boxing
club in the world. 1t was blow at the
good name of boxing, and unless the
commission penalties the offenders It
will be an open invitation to other "im-
pulsive" boxers to indulge in disorderly
conduct.
In fixing penalties against violators OF
commission rules. a champion or ex-
champion is not entitled to any more
than four round preliiri-
nary boxer.
Britton and Lewis appeared at COM
mission headquarters yesterday and told
their stories of the dispute.
Britton declared that he struck Good
man during a dispute In Lewis's corner
following the second round when he was
registering a protest against Lewis
wearing a rubber mouth protector. He
said that the second pushed him and he
retaliated with punch. Lewis, he said.
jumped from his chair and made pass
at him but missed
Lewis. who claimed he wore the guard
because his lips were tender, made this
statement:
at saw him come over to my corner
ready for action. l didn't hear him say
lnything. l saw him make a swing and
pushed him off. Goodman wouldn't
do anything wrong. He is as innocent
as a little new born baby"
Goodman. the second. who is in Mont
real looking after poolroom operated
by Lewis. set forth his case in letter
to the commission.
Mike Gibbons has issued challenge
TO Johnny Wilson for a fifteen round