The Washington times., 1934-01-26
James A. McLGrnin Is
Rings Best Finisher
But Here's a Question
BY BILL CORUM

the lightweight champion did
not care to press his advan-
tages. He fought in spots and
just enough to demonstrate his
superiority"
Now Barney Ross, of Chicago,
is a champion out of the ring as
we'll as in it, 1t has been long
time since a better fighter and
nicer boy came along in the tin
ear industry. Or, as Washington
would no doubt put it with it's
new mania for initiating every
thing, including wild Bill" Lyons
handkerchiefs, the TEL.
Thus Barney seems to be the
sort of youngster from whom we
might expect such a chivalrouS
act.
But what I would like to know
from you is, what is the ethics Of
such a situation?
Assuming for the sake of our
argument that Barney coasted
along with the creaking express as
it rolled down the grade and out
of sight forever, was he right or
was he wrong?
Now don't let sentiment run
away with your judgment and
answer too hastily. Think 1t
over.
Does a fighter owe his first duty
to the fans who pay the freight
on the Fargo Expresses and all the
other big and little trains of the
ring, or doesn't he? And if he
does, isn't that duty to give every
ounce that's in him every inch Of
the way?
Viewpoint of Vet
If Ross was to admit that he
packed Petrolle, I wouldn't hon
estly know whether to cheer or
hiss him. That's why I'm asking
you.
Don't forget-not, of course,
specifically in Ross case but in
a theoretical caSe-that if you
cheer a fighter for carrying a
popular old timer for the sake
of kindliness, it is only another
step until he is carrying some
other fighter for some other rea-
son. Or until he is being carried
in turn. Perhaps to make good
return match. Perhaps for a
reason even more sinister than
that.
And how, I wonder, would a
beaten veteran feel if he knew
that some kid was taking pity
on him. Would Benny Leonard
have felt better to have McLarnin
go along and outpoint him, or
to stop him, as Jimmy did?
Surely there was case where
the fans of this city, at any rate,
would have been inclined to
justify and applaud leniency.
But I am not so sure Benny
would have liked it. Benny is a
proud fellow. Justly proud of
his ring record and the skill he
felt he still had to the bitter
end Of the road that night in the
Garden. It is my guess that he
would have resented any show
of kindness on McLarnin'S part.
But let's ask him. Drop us a
note, Benny, and tell us how
you would have felt about such
a situation.
Can't Picture Pitcher
Somehow I can't picture a
pitcher calling to Babe Ruth:
"Here you are Babe. I'll hang .
this one on string. Here it
comes right down the middle
with nothing on it, SO you
knock it over the fence"
It doesn't perhaps matter much
now whether Ross was going easy
or going the best he could the
other evening. We are using the
fight to illustrate and make clear
our question. Which type do you
prefer?
If you don't feel like writing
an answer, check your preference
here, tear it off and mail it to
me at 220 South St., New York
city. The fighter who tries for a
knockout every minute no matter
who he is fighting, the McLarnin
The fighter who goes easy on a
great veteran such as Leonard
or Petrolle, possibly the Ross
type.
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