The New York herald., 1922-08-20
Wilson and Kilbane, Who
Would Not Fight, Find
Themselves Sidetracked.
BOARDS PATENT WEAPON
Rosenberg and Dundee Much
Superior to Preceding Leaders
of Middle and Feather Glasses.
by CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

~ - @A<A AAASOHNs
Immediately following the announce
ment of Dave Rosenberg's defeat of
Phil Krug for the middleweight title
that Johnny Wilson refused to defend.
there arose loud bursts of merriment
anent the New York State champion
of the world" This was in humorous
allusion to the supposed lack of au-
thority on the part of the New York
commission to sanction bouts for ma
tional or international titles.
In spite of the unbelief in its powers,
the New York commission has caused
two championship bouts to take place
In this State one for the worlds mid
dleweight title and one for the Ameri-
can featherweight championship.
Preceding these events. the New York
Commission notified Wilson. the middle
weight titleholder. and Kilbane, the
American featherweight champion, to
defend their honors within a specified
time under penalty of forfeiture. This
announcement resulted in tornado os
mirth. especially in Massachusetts and
Ohio. No one denied that the attitude
of Kilbane and Wilson In refus ng 70
box any one except under conditions
so unfair as to preclude a victory by the
sport.
1t was generally admitted that drastic
action was required to compel those two
dictatorial title holders to obey the rea-
sonable rules that have been conformei
to by champions of other classes, Or
else TO forfeit their honors. Yet, when
William Muldoon. the only man who
in the history of boxing in America ha
had the courage to face autocratic title
holders and self-seeking managers AMI
demand that they live up to the rules.
he is assailed with the charge of czar-
ism. 1t was admitted In advance that
the reforms he has brought about were
necessary. but when he brought abou.
the desired results. he was charged with
acting without authority, and with not
having power to enforce his DEGREES.
Wilson and KiIbane Barred.
However, it is a condition and not a
theory that confronts Wilson and Kill
bane. Not only have successors to their
titles been chosen. but the deposed
champions are in a position where
matches of any description are practic-
ally out of the question. They cannot
box in New York. where ring work Is
more lucrative than In any other part
of the country. but any boxers or man
ayers who arrange matches elsewhere
with the deposed champions, will also
be barred in the Empire State. THIS
Is the restriction employed successfully
by the amateur athletic union to keep
the simon pures pure and the plan Will
work equally we'll in the case of profess
sional boxers. 1t therefore can be Sc ~
that the New York Commission has "A
most effective method for forcing conf
pliance wits It's edicts.
A stock argument against the action
of the commission is that as titles have
been won in the ring in the past, pre-
cedent should rule at present and in
future. Such action would act as an
effective bar to any material progress
in the work of ehabilitation of the
sport. If precedent is TO govern. then
reform will be completely blocked. Un-
der the vicious London rules men fought
with bare knuckles and employed most
brutal tactics. yet in those days cham
pions defended titles every six months
or forfeited. Then when the humane
Queensberry rules superseded the Lon
don code. and padded mitts replaced
bare knuckles there sprang into exist
cnce an oligarchy OF champions who
insolently violated every known rule.
Sullivan was the pioneer of these rule :.
breaking champions and his reprehensi-
BILE. example has bean followed by title
holders in every class.
If the efforts OF the New York Com.
mission 10 compel the lawless element
of boxing to obey just regulations Al
not successful 1t will mean serious
setback to the sport.
The British Board CT Boxing Control.
which rules the sport with an iron hand.
has not a shred of legal authority. But
1t has the united support OF all inter-
ested in the welfare OF boxing, and its
rulings are accepted by all concerned.
AS an example of the power Of the
British board it recently deprived Kid
Lewis of two championships ne had won
In ring bouts. Lewis had captured the
welter. middle and light heavyweight
championships of England and then
challenged Carpenter !, for the worlds
title at It's pounds. This resulted In an
easy victory for the Frenchman and the
British board thereupon declared the
welter and light heavy titles without
incumbenfs, leaving Lewis in possession
OF the mi6jlexeight honors. Lewis has
gracefully accepted the decision. The
board gave as a reason for Its action
that one man holding three titles was
productive of too many freak ring con-