Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
MEGAPHONE MAN
IS VITAL FIGURE
Rated as One of Six Men
Who Can Make or Mar
Any Boxing Show.
BY JIMMY DE FOREST.

BY JIMMY DE FOREST.
Famous Trainer and Veteran Handler OF
Boxers.
Gene Tunney is matched to defenc
his title Of heavyweight champion o
the world against Tom Heeney in New
York on July IS in the Yankee Sta
dunn. The articles Of agreement ar
all signed, sealed and delivered ant
even now the men are hard at WORK
training for the fight Each is striving
and scheming TO the heSt Of his ability
70 present the best defense and offenst
possible against his opponent. So mucf
the public knows But what the public
doesn't know is that the managers al
these respective fighters are equal
IL busy Scheming how 10 protect
their charges against what we mlgh'
Sall overt acts" or ''untcward happen
mgs" that would be catalogued under
the heading OF unforeseen clTcum-
stances" in case they dio happen.
In the recent trial of the suit by Jack
Eesrns against Jack Dempsey II was
brought cut that Dempsey had de-
nasnded that Tex Richard guarantee
him protection" if he fought N New
York. Much was made OF TINS reveal
ton ar the time. for the inference was
drawn that Dempsey thought RlcKafd
welded some power with the boxing
commission or with powerful poilti-
clans. But that wasn't what Dempsey
meant at all Jack knew there were
vayS that he could be gyped out OF
his title by the actions of any one Of
three ring officials. exclusive of this
Judges. and he wanted to be guaranteed
that nothing like that would happen.
Fans Are Ring Wise"
The fight fan Of today prides him
self on being ring wise. That Is ms
thinks you can't put ANYTHING over on
me" and he loses no opportunity 10
express his disapproval IN series OF
loud boos if a fight is not 70 his liking
or some action Of one Of the fighters or
the referee doesn't please him.
But vlaat does he know about the ring
ot5cials? What are their duties. and in
what measure does their efficiency or
tack of II affect the fight itself III bet
that 90 out Of 100 lay fans don't know,
I'll oct that the same number don't
eren know what or who the ring OIL
Gals are who can make or break night!
There are six men who have vital
bearing on any ring contest. and / II
name them IN the order OF their appear
ance, as the theater programs put It..
They are:
The announcer. the referee. the sec
ord. the tin1ekeeper. the judge and the
representative of the boxing commission
at the ringsioe.
The announcer" I can hear some
Of my readers say. How in the world
can he affect the outcome OF the bat
te9"
And nv answer is Just this: If l
wanted to put over a crooked deal, the
only one I'd take In on it would be the
announcer. III tell you why: The an
nouncer is really the one VINO gives the
decision, under the present system OF
deciding fights In New York and In
practically every other State where
boxing is conducted in this country.
I'm to the Announcer.
The Judges arrive at their decision
and write 1t on a slip of paper. The
referee does the same. and the three
sips are handed to the announcer.
This fellow reads the slips and inter-
urefs them. What's to prevent him
from giving any decision he pleases, II
he wants TO put something over. He
wouldn't be found out until the next
day at the earliest, and by that time
all bets would have been paid.
Even being honest. the decision often
hes with the announcer. Its up to hum
to render the decision that he decides
the slips call for In this State, If two
Of the slips call the fight draw and
one slip favors one of the fighters. the
anucuncer's decision should be a draw,
because that is the ma Jority vote. But
how easy it would ba TO give the oeci-
-s,v, e. $.n 1Cyasey xxyi10 has nf4e V0fP in
his favor?
Only IN the case where fighter has
tro votes In his favor may the an
nouncer declare him the winner. Where
each fighter has one vote in his favor.
with one vote draw, the announcer
must declare the fight draw. So.
YOU see, the announcer really Is an
important person. who has more to 90
than merely make irtroductlons.
Although the customers don't gener-
asiy appreciate it, the fact is that often
The announcer helps nightly in put
ting over the show. If he gets the
crowd in good humor right of the bat,
the chances are they will enjoy the eve
nins's entertainment even though II
might fall a bit short. II he is tactful
in his introductions and keeps things
moving along smoothly. he helps more
show success from the standpoint OF
satisfying the customers.
Acts as Balance Wheel
Again. the announcer oftentimes
ayerts stampedes or panics. recall
the time. back in the old both MEM
berg of this club days, when q fire
broke out next door 10 club which
Was one of the worst fire traps IN New
York. A little fellow named Gus Amos
was the announcer. The fire engines
we're changing up 10 the door, and there
was a general stampede getting under
way. with everybody trying to reach the
windows at the rear, when Gus sprang
into In ring and In his high. piping
voice. saYilied above the bedian of noise.
"Just 2 moment, gentlemen, he
silrieked, that fires across the street
Those Tho wish 70 depart will have
their money refunded If they present
their ticket stubs al the box Office at
the front Of the house,"
That stoDped the rush for the win
doUs and then Gus Yelled gain Get
II line. fellows: get IN line and take II
easy" That Gained the situation. and
Gus called for the tiu1ekeeper 70 sound
the gong The fighters resumed their
battle. and IN Q few minutes the fights
were roins n1errilv along while the fire
RACED nexl door When the customer
vent olt. the FIRE had been extinguished
and they realized for tnc first time In
what danger they had sat for couple
Of hours
fccpgrtght. 1929!
fin his next article Jimmy DE Pores
discusses the duties Of the referee