Evening star., 1933-01-22
|R|NG Commission
| CALLED LUD|CRQUS
Case of Watson Is Declared
Example Of Stupid Rsk
by Near. Experts.
BY SPARROW 1fcGANN.
n Jew YORK, January s1.-
M The New York Boxing
i Y Commission continues 10

n JEW YORK, January s1.-
M The New York Boxing
/ Y Commission continues 10
set the pace In making q
fool of itself for the edification
Of other boxing commissions
throughout the country.
The boards ruling that q for
eign fighter must first show his
wares in small club before ap-
pearing in Madison Square Gar
den has some merit.
But waving the rule and letting a
fighter prove his ability in gymnasium
workouts against three different types
OF preliminary boys borders on the
ludicrouS.
The fighter in this weeks case
chanced to be Seaman Watson British
featherweight champion. Three deputies
OF the commission, who owe their Jobs
TO political pull and know little more
than the ordinary fan about the fine
points OF the game, were the Judges.
Watson went through with the ordeal,
but would have been justified In term
ing the action of the commission a
brazen insult.
THE British Board of Boxing Control.
L a body similar in function to and
as amusing as the New York Box
ing Commission, refused to help Watson
out OF the embarrassing situation, stat
Ing that he did not seek its permis-
sion to fight abroad. In other words,
watson and his manager John Morti-
mer, forgot they were slaves of self
appointed body when they accepted q
good offer to fight elsewhere than on
the home hearth.
Fighters today are hampered by so
many restrictions that it is becoming
harder each day to do anything with
out breaking some kind of rule. Primo
Camera showed the way to others of
his profession by turning UP for the
signing OF contract with his lawyer.
TRIAL OF a fighter by a jury OF So
L called experts brings up the oues-
tlon OF gymnasium form. The
best fighters in the gym have been
proved to be the worst ever to show in
the ring under actual fighting condi-
tions: Harry Greb's idea of training for
fight was to stay up with the night.
hawks or play game of hand ball and
then call it day. No one ever ac-
cused Harry of putting up bad fight.
Gene Tunney was exasperating in train
ing. he refused to batter his SPAR
mates ana worked out new theories in
practice and at times looked verv
mediocre: Training for the first Demp.
sey fight, Gene went through some bad
sessions perfecting a punch he was to
use against the reigning champion, and
critics came away from his camp GER
tain that he would be lucky to last
three heats.
Al Reich was the greatest gymnasiu.
nghter one ever expected to see. Til
same goes for Ruby Goldstein. Y,
neither could survive a clout on tt
cn1n and wound up among the forgotte
boxers who tried hard and failed
click.
THIS writer was present when sup
L posedly sound judge of fighting
flesh witnessed the antics Of a fel-
low who thought he could fight and
was looking for good manager. The
expert departed before the rookie fight
er had finished his chores. The hope
less one turned out to be Paul Berlen-
bach. who became light -heavyweight
champion of the world.
Ring history is filled with accounts
OF unsatisfactory performers In the
gym. The clowns Of the gymnasium
may turn out to be great lighters In
the ring-and the fans are the best
judges OF fighter.
Fight fans have been fooled by pub
licity. The only way they can pro
tect themselves against second-rate
fighters who are being palmed off as
champions is to refuse to attend a bog
ing match unless the fighters advertised
have shown their mettle against quality
opposition.