The Indianapolis times., 1930-06-26
l ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAM

- EW 4OGA1As cAAAC @o-- NOAA s%%~
~ recommendation Of Frank
Wiener, chairman of the body, the
Pennsylvania boxing commission
has fined old George Godfrey 5000
and suspended him for life as a
penalty for the foul blow with which
he groined Primo Camera over in
the Phillies' ball park the other
night. It is also disclosed that Will
liam Duffy and his associates in the
management of the Italian giant
have been indefinitely suspended
because Duffy in a moment Of tenn
peramental pique is alleged TO have
swatted one of the commissioner S
vassals between the eyes back in
the dressing room before the fight.
II seems the gentleman who Is alleged
70 have been svatted by Duffy had called
in the course Of his nightly routine with
the intent Of persuadinE one Of the re-
fined brutes connected with the visiting
circus to degarb himself in groin pro-
tector adopted and sanctioned BY the COM
mis-. ion as a reasonable safeguard against
injury.
ECr some reason II aDpEdIo LlAI N4E
not care to be annoyed by such trivial
thir rs and when the gentleman persisted
Duffy. II the allegation is true. hauled on
exc executive who is a stickier for direct, ac-
are riEhteously indignant and it is with
no little judicial pride that tney invite
their constituents to contemplate and ap-
plsud the very drastic action which tney
nave H'" n
WILL all the parishioners
w please stand and tear of a
long impious yawn? This legalized
larceny that is known as prize
fighting is beset with so many
definite and distinct social evils
that it may be extravagant to say
that of all the evils the various
boxing commissions are the worst.
Perhaps it is best to be conserva-
tive and say that the commissions
are merely ore of the worst.
n
Consider the Godfrey Camera fasco. On
a prior. occasion Godfrey had been
banned In Pennsylvania, because of per-
formance attended by suspicious circum-
stances. If my memory is alert I think
IL vas Mr.. Wiener himself who authorized
this earlier suspension. Moreover, at the
time he publicly characterized the sport
Of saps as a racket infested by disreputabie
characters and unworthy of public support.
= n
Meanwhile Carnera and his Broadway
manipulators were moving from coast to
coast running up a string OF knockoutS.
some of which were legitimats and some
OF which we're not. At the time the God
frev-Carnera match was made the Negro
had done nothing TO atone for his previous
transgressicns OF the moral code. and
states following an investigation by the
national boxing commission
TXTELL, in view of these circum-
wv stances. why did Mr.. Wiener
and his associates decide that these
two noble athletes should be
brought together in prize fight?
Don't look to me for the answer; 1
don't know. Theoretically, boxing
commissions are obligated to pro-
tect the citizenry against grave mis-
representations and unsatisfactory
exhibits in much the same manner
that the cop on the corner is sup
posed to serve as a guarantee
against criminal disturbance in the
neighborhood.
q
yt would seem that the most effective
way to serve this end would be to refuse
TO sanction any match involving prize
fighters with questionable records. Godfrey
and Carnera could not have fought in
Pennsylvania If Mr.. Wiener and his assO-
cistes hadn't certified them. The fact
that they did certify them placed che
burden Of responsibility entirely on the
commissioners. That the match wound up
in the usual fouling fiasco is an indict-
ment that can be charged solely to the
oreduIity. II not the laxity. Of the said
commissioners.
q
This being so 1t seems wholly unjust to
fine old George $4,000 and suspend the
Camera stable. The primary offenders were
the optimistic commissioners themselves.