The New York herald., 1922-07-26
Quaker Asks That He Be Per
mitted to Hit When His
Hands Are Free.
ny CHARLES r. MArHIsoN.

Lew Tender. who meets Champion
Leonard In Boyle's Thirty Acres to-
morrow night. has. through his man
ager. made a singular eleventh hour
request of referee Harry Ertle. 1t Is
that the challenger be permitted to hit
If both his hands are free. II Leonard
happens to be holding Tender and the
latter is not holding Leonard. the
Quaker desires permission to strike.
There Is little question as to the OBJ
Ject Of the Tendl,r forces. They nat
urally depend for success on the chal-,
lenger getting in close and effectively
reaching the champion in the body.
Unless there is some new tangled pro-
vision OF the Jersey boxing rules to
prevent. Tender does not need the per-
mission Of the referee to enable him. to
hit when his hands are free. There is a
rule as old as boxing itself that q man
may hit when he is not holding. and
1t makes no difference II his opponent
is hanging on for dear life.
In all lands where boxing Is fostered
to-day the rule Is universal that man
must not hold and hit at the same time.
Under the Walker law holding and
hitting Is foul. and no doubt the Jer-
sey regulations contain a similar pro-
vision. A strict Interpretation Of tho
rules would not empower the referee
to order two boxers to break If only
one was holding. and the man not at
fault would be justified in hitting.
However, Referee Ertle will be the
judge OF when to order the boxers to
break, and either one who hits after
nyr1v, 90 81 -
likely to receive a warning. At the
Same time either Of the contestants
whose hands are free will be justified
In striking until such time as the ref
cree orders them to step back. If
either of-the boxers holds with one
hand and hits with the other, he Is
likely to be penalized.
Leonard is not given to clinching. as
his best work Is done when boxing at
long range. and there Is small chance
that he will hold Tender and give the
Quaker an opportunity to reach him In
the body.
Ertle visited the training quarters
OF the boxers few days ago, but It
would seem that the question Of hitting
with the hands free was not touched
upon. ~
1t will be In order for the refereA and
boxers to come to an understanding on
that point before the men enter the
ring. as a long drawn out verbal dis
pute in the ring would te unseemly and
tiresome.
Leonard and Tender will leave their
training camps tomorrow morning and
reach Jersey City in nne to weigh In at
p. M. There Is small. doubt that
either will have any trouble making the
stipulated weight Of 1876 pounls and the
$4,000 posted by each for weight and
appearance is unquestionably safe.
Everything Is in readiness for the
handling Of the big crowd The lighting
plant and seating arrangements were
completed yesterday. The police have
been instructed to keep the crowd block
away from the arena and only those
holding tickets will be allowed to get
through the lines. There will be three
minute service on the Hudson tube be-
fore and after the bout. as well as extra
service on all ferries from Forty-second
street down to tho Battery.
Matchmaker Flournoy intends to start
the first bout. between Johnny Coney