The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-15
Women Make
 Best Judges OfFights
Weaker Sex Show Fairer Judgment Of Boxing Bouts, Tex
By. TEX nioKARp

eritsiN, Cuba. Japan aaa South America by sesh All rights rsservsdD
 In the last few years women have become more and more prominent in the crowds that attend fights. This always has been of interest to me because have held the belief from the start that there was no reason why women should not attend box ing matches just as they do other forms of amusement
 There used to be lot of talk about the sport being too brutal for wem- en; that they could not stand the sight of blood, of physical combat. People, somehow, forget that women in many ways have more fortitude | than men. They can stand more phy- sicaI suffering. The war nurses saw more on their daily work than 8 lot of men could stand. When 1t comes to fighting patriotism the women can give the men cards and spades. "Fairer" Judges
 Now, since they have been attend ing fights the women have shown themselves much fairer judges than the average man. They are even
 
 to see one of them set unduly ex- cited. They arc strong paftisans for their favorite, though. The most noticeable thing about the women spectators is that "a large ma jority of them come from the higher strata of society rather than from This I believe due largely to the benefit shows we staged to raise funds for charity, Miss Ann Morgan was the pioneer in that method Of rais- ing money to help worthy causes, she was at the head of the biz box the devasted areas of France. I was struck by her buslnesslike .at- l titude, common sense and clear un- derstaHding of what we were driving at. Miss Morgan Is wonderful woman.
 It's Like Women At The Polls
 When 1t was pointed out to her that to raise money the most impor- tant thing was to give show that the public really wanted to see--to arrange 1t so they could get their moneys worth and at the same time be doing something for just cause
 That Is exactly what we want. We will give them the best we can. we want real boxing matches between real boxers. You go right ahead and our committee will attend to the rest of the work"
 That committee headed by Miss Morgan went at the work with such many women interested In boxing who otherwise would not have thought of 1t. Boxing got a big boost. The names of the prominent women also added to tho prestige of the affair. As result thousands of women saw the VnQtAo nf ted as duty they discovered that they actually liked the boxing game. Many of them have been coming ever since
 Bars Let Down
 As soon as the bars were let down they stayed down. The foolish ideas that had prevailed were soon dissi- pated. Women are just as sensible sentially game. Never yet have I heard of one being the least disturbed or siokened by fighter starting to bleed after having been hit in the nose.
 Instead of the fight game lowering tended the matches their presence ap- pears to have uplifted the conduct of the sport. There are no more rough scenes.
 The presence of women at the prize fishts reacted very much as did their presence at the polls.
 Another woman who has done much to elevate boxing through her efforts to raise funds for charity is Airs. Hearst, head of the Milk Fund Com raittee.
 It Wasn't Too Gory Fer Her
 l have seen many humorous incl dents when women attended their rlrst fishts, In none of them have I seen any semblapce of revuision at what some have called a brutal sport.
 one night at the Garden I saw a well bred woman with her escort sit- ting directly back of Haywood Breun, the writer: The next day he related what he heard.
 As the couple seated themselves the woman confessed to great thrill at fight.
 "only hope 1t won't be too brutal,"- she added, narvously.
 She watched everything very closely and was soon taking sides in the pre- limiparies.
 Pulled Fer Brennan
 The main event was between Jack Dempsey and Bill Brennan. Feeling that Hrennap had the worst of 1t to start with, this woman immediately began puiiing. for him,
 up 10 this time she had seen nothing prutai. Her escort was very ncrv ous for fear there would be blood
 In one of the rounds Brennan clip pea Dempsey on the ear, tearing 1t slightly. Blood began to triekis down the champions face.
 "oh look!" cried the woman, tubi- anyway"
 After that the escort had no more anxiety about brutality. Since then I nave nave seen that woman fan at several There were many women at the tirst fight l staged, that between Cans ana Nelson at Goldfield. We knew nothing then about women being barred at prize fights in the east. Eyi- oentiY the women out in Nevada didn't either. There were fully three hun dred Of them there.
 sooo, 600 For Charity Fund
 In listing the expenses and receipts Of the fights In Madison Square Gar den l did not mention that we have gwen more than $500 900 to charity that IS, the public has,
 Most Of these benefit shows have been giveH at the request of promi- ment women and we always have been glad glad to help. We give the Garden tree, engage all the fighters and usual ly pay a big share of the expenses. All the profit goes to the cause for which the benefit is given,
 tomorrow; Carpenter