The New York herald., 1922-04-16
Referees Gave Many Decisions
by Which Losers Escaped the
!, Stigma of Defeat.
sULLIvAN'S TITLE SAVED
AIiske's Quick Defeat of Shade
Should DisillusiOnize Aus
tralian Patrons of Boxing.
BY CHARLES F. MATHIsoN.


Modern boxers are sorely grieved
because referees and judges lack the
judicial quality of mind that char
acterized Solomon. The boxers de-
fldges know little or rothing about
the points in a boxing contest and
that when the winner gets the decision
Il is merely matter OF luck.
There is some basis for the plant of
the roped square athletes, for there
has been an epidemic Of remarkable
decisions. 1t is for this reason that
many titleholders are timid about max
ing matches to decision by judges or
Seferees. The apparent incompetency
og many judges is due 10 the lack of
schooling in modern boxing rules
Many of the judges canno: repeat the
~1dimentary rules OF boxing under
present conditions. The Boxing Com
mission should insist on all applicants
for positions as judges going through
! thorough examination before getting
license.
However, sad as may be the fate OF
the modern boxer. he should derive some
consolation through comparing his con-
dii.on with that of the fighters who
loarished previous to the days Of boxing
commissions and turnstles. Unjust de-
slsions Of the present time are due al
ancst entirely to incompetency, but the
bad rulings OF the ring days of the dark
past were deliberately planned and car
red out These plots were usually
matched with the object of saving the
Little OF champion in case his opponent
became unmanageable.
Sullivan-McCaHrey.
The most notable incident of that ma
cure developed at the bout between John
L. Sullivan and Dominick McCaffrey in
Chester Driving Park, Cincinnati, Au-
gust 90 1885. McCaffrey was
smaller man than Sullivan but an ex-
rellent boxer and a Furnishing hitter.
However, the Sullivan clan were conf
dent the mighty John l.. would lay
sMcCaffrey low in few rounds. Yet they
decided to leave no loophole for escape
for the challenger. and they drew up
articles Of agreement calling for six
that II Sullivan failed to win in six
rounds he could continue until such
time as he subdued the unruly Nc
Caffrey.
The plans of the Sullivan crowd were
perfect in all respects but one. They
rad seriously unestimated the ability
pf the challenger. To their consterna-
lion. McCaffrey outboxed Sullivan from
the call Of time in the first to the close
of the sixth. The challenger also pun
ished Sullivan severely about the face
and body and sent him to his corner at
the end of the sixth round bleeding and
tired Worst Of all, Sullivan had failed
10 land any blows of a damaging ma
ture on McCaffrey. 1t looked d certain
~ that Sullivan was about to lose his
title of champion of America.
When Referee Ed Tate called time"
for the seventh round, there followed
one OF the most amazing scenes in the
history of pugiism. A champion who
had signed an agreement to fight to a
finish refused to come out OF his corner .
McCaffrey. who had promptly responded
TO the call OF time. advanced to Sulli-
vans corner and said: Come on, John :
six rounds or to a finish, you know"
But the champion refused. The great
crowd of 1000 that filed the driving
park stood dumfounded for several
minutes and then went away BY fall
ing to answer the call of time Sullivan
automatically lost the fight and his title
However. the champions handlers were
resourceful persons. as appeared later
During the excitement Tate referee
slipped out OF the ring and went to his
home in Toledo. Two days later he sent
word to the newspapers that Sullivan
rad won the fight. Therefore, McCaf-
frey was defrauded of fight and
title be had fairly won. In addition.
be failed to receive penny OF the
large gate receipts. What would
modern boxer say to such treatment as
that received by McCaffrey?
Carney-McAuIlffe.
somewhat similar affair developed
cit Of the International lightweight
championship between Jern Carney.
British title holder, and Jack McAuliffe
the American champion. The bout was
contested at Revere Beach. Mass. No
vember rs, 1897, and McAuliffe's friends
we're confident he would conquer Car
ney and thus become the champion
lightweight OF the world. II was the
first and only time that McAuliffe had
been matched with foreign title holder
and therefore the only chance McAuliffs
ever had 10 make himself the champion
Of the world.
Tho lightweight member OF the '"rhree
Jacks" fooled and has been compelled
20 be content with the American title.
Yet for theatrical purposes McAuliffe
always bills himself as champion of
the world. A twinkle of the eye always
accompanies the announcement Nc.
Auliffe caught tartar in Carney, who
proved TO be a good boxer. an accurate.
furnishing hitter and strong as an OK.
The men fought with skin gloves Lon
don rules. and Carney inflicted severe
punishment on the American McAuliffe
was helpless at the end Of the seventy
fourth round and could not rise from his
sest. Thereupon the seconds Of the
beaten man cut the ring ropes took
possession OF the ring and saved Nc
Auliffe from further punishment Franz
stevenson Of Bleeclter street was ref
cree and he called the bout a draw. I,
had been rumored that Stevenson al tho
bchcst OF a betting clique had deter
mined TO declare McAuliffe the winner
but the late Al Smith. who held heavy
stakes. presented cogent reasons 70 the
referee why he should not call McAulffe