Evening star., 1933-02-15
PRIMO CAN BATTLE
ONLY GIANTS IN n. Y.
Schaaf Death Brings Threat
of Boxing Law Repeal.
Medicos Differ.
BY HERBERT w. BARKER,
Associated Press Sports Writer

l \ had struck heavy blow at
boxing in New York State
today, brought about threat of
repeal of the State boxing law and
caused the virtual disbarment of
Primo Carnera, solely upon the
grounds of his gigantic size.
Only few hours after Schaaf died
In Polytechnic Hospital of brain injury,
Gov. Lehman ordered thorough in
yestigation of his bout with Carnera in
Madison Square Garden last Friday
night, some legislators moved toward
more stringent regulations for boxing
If not outright repeal of the law under
which it is conducted in this State, and
the State Athletic Commission fatty
declared it would not approve a match
between Camera and Sharkty nor allow
the huge Italian to box any one less
than 6 feet inches tall and weighing
less than 220 pounds.
DACK Of the commissions surprising
~ action, wrecking the Gardens plans
for title match here in June be-
tween Sharkey and Carnera, was the
venerable figure of William Muldoon.
With Gen. John j. Phelan concurring,
Muldoon announced that the super
dreadnaught class for diversified heavy
weights, first organized in 1881, would
be re-established, and that Carnera, if
he Is to fight in this State at all, must
pick his rivals strictly from within that
division.
Muldoon declared he had opposed the
Schaaf-CarneTa bout from the start,
but that public opinion had led him to
approve 1t against his better judgment.
II didn't see the fight" the veteran
commissioner said, "but I was afraid
OF 1t from the start. and now my fears
are borne out. Camera is great ath-
lete from the feet up. He has the
speed and agility of middleweight, and
as far as punching is concerned, he
needs no snap to his blows. His weight
Is enough. He is the greatest physical
specimen ! have ever seen.'
THE effect of the commissions edict
i is that it practically will bar the
this State. The "superdreadnaught" di-
vision, as defined by the commission,
would include only about half dozen
weights-Carnera, George God
frey, Jose Santa, Walter Cobb, Ray I'm
pelletiere and Victorio Campolo. OF
these, Carnera has met and defeated all
but Impelletiere.
Although Jimmy Johnston, Garden
boxing promoter, declined to state his
reaction to the commission ruling, there
were indications that the Garden had
under consideration plan to move the
SharEey- Camera title match to some
other State, possibly Massachusetts,.
The bout could be held there under the
auspices of the Boston Garden, q sub
sidiary OF the local corporation.
Notwithstanding rumblings at Albany,
1t was considered unlikely that the
Boston heayyweights death would bring
about any ban on boxing. James A.
Farley, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee and chairman Of
the New York State Athletic Commits
sion, took the position that Schaaf's
death, while deeply to be deplored, could
not be construed as a reflection upon
boxing.
>DURrNG my connection with box
IL ing In New York State" he
said, there have been very few
such accidents. do not recall more
than three and none reflects upon box
Ing or the manner in which it is con-
Quoted here. The commission, clubs
and others all have done everything
possible to protect the boxers
Farley, who arrived here from Miami
too late to attend the commission meet
ing, pointed out at the same time that
fatal accidents have occurred in other
sports, notably foot ball, without caus-
ing any great hue or cry"
At Albany, the only direct action was
taken by Gov Lehman in ordering the
State Athletic Commission to investi-
gate "all the circumstances" surround
ing Schaafs fatal injury. Any future
action he might take, the Governor in
dicated, would depend upon what facts
were presented to him by the commits
sion.
Senator Henry G. Schackno Bronx
Democrat and chairman of the Judi
ctary Committee, said he would ask in
a few days for repeal Of the boxing law.
while Assemblynen Saul Streit. Tam
many Democrat, and Arthur Schwartz,
Buffalo Republican, both announced
they favored more stringent legislation
to prevent the matching Of boxers Of
unequal weights.
MEANWHILE the exact cause OF
1vl Schaafs death remained in doubt,
pending thorough examination
and microscopic analysis of the brain.
This probably cannot be completed for
10 days.
There was sharp conflict in medical
opinion as to the cause of death DR..
Charles W. Norris, chief medical exam
iner Of New York City. declared an
autopsy had revealed absolutely no
evidence that Schaaf died of injuries
received in the Camera bout.
DR.. BRYAN Stookey, noted brain spe-
cialist who operated upon the stricken
other hand that the cerebral hemor-
rhage and resulting pressure on the
brain had been caused by Cameras
punches. DR.. Stookey's diagnosis was
confirmed. tentatively at least, bv DR.
Norris assistant, Dr. Benjamin Vance
who performed the autopsy. He signed
certificate giving the causes Of death
as cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral
compression"
DR. VANCE added, however, that he
II believes some growth, cyst or
tumor hitherto unsupported, was
the real cause of the compression that
paralyzed the fighters left side from
the moment he toppled over In the
thirteenth round until he died, at 4:26
o'clock yesterday morning
police investigation developed no
evidence OF criminal negligence" As
sistant District Attorney James P. DAILY
announced after he had questioned
Camera, the rival managers and ham
dlers, the referee, Billy Cavanaugh; the
judges and boxing commission officials.
Schaaf's body was sent to Sheldons-
vile. Mass, near Boston, last night.
Funeral services will be held there Fri
day at the home of his mother, Mrs.
Lucy Schaaf.
TITLE BOUT POSTPONED.
LOS ANC.EI Ire, rnal...a~.. L. Irn