Evening star., 1934-12-31
BY EDWARD C. FOSTER,

oJ lLhIeIic dcLlDlty.J
BY EDWARD c. FOSTER,
President. National Boxing Association.
HROVIDENCE, r. l., December
- 31.-Boxing certainly needs
major operation for 1885. In
contrast with the record in all
other major professional sports, espe-
cially base ball, foot ball and hockey,
boxing continued on the down grade
last year from the standpoint of pub
lie interest as well as prestige.
Attendance in most of the larger
cities has fallen off to a point where
a promoter is lucky to have 25 to so
per cent of his arena filled for pro-
fesSional fight shows. The sport will
continue to go down hill unless those
interested in its support. not only for
the sake of competition but as busi-
ness, realize that drastic steps must
be taken to clean house. We need
new deal in boxing from top to bot
tom, wedding out the chiselers and
poor fighters.
It's time to face the situation hon.
estly and seek some remedies when
1t develops that world champion
ship contest" was held in our largest
city (Rosenbloom- -Olin in New York;
and only little more than 5000 paid
to see it.
1NQUESTIONABLY this deplor-
L able condition today in boxing
Is due entirely to the present.
day boxer and his so-called manager.
I honestly believe that rs per cent
Of these so-called managers should be
relegated to the position which they
really should hold, namely, that of
trainer or rubber for the boxer.
With practically every State in the
Union that has legalized boxing hav-
ing a State athletic commission it is
really unnecessary for the average
young boxer to be burdened with
manager. 1t is the absolute duty of
every State athletic commission, when
q contest is arranged in their State, to
see that everybody concerned is amply
protected, and this certainly goes for
the boxer
The first objective of the so-called
manager is to see that his boy has
soft spot on any boxing card. He
then demands twice as much as the
boy is worth, and usually. his next in
struction to the boy, if his opponent
is at all worthy, is to take it easy
and not put too much effort into the
contest.
This method has been in vogue for
quite some few years past, and the
result is exactly what we have to con-
tend with today, namely, poor con-
tests, bad matches and thoroughly dis
gusted boxing fans.
The present-day champions are
certainly leaving themselves open to
considerable criticism. Regarding the
heavyweight division, I believe that
the less said about this class the
better.
NEXT we come to the light-heavy-
weight division, of which Bob
Olin is the present champion. 1t
remains to be seen whether Olin will
be a real fighting champion or turn
himself into sort of safety deposit
box for the title.
In the middleweight division Teddy
Yarosz has certainly not shown much
activity up to the present time, but
believe that title match soon will be
staged in Pittsburgh.
The welterweight division has
Babby-faced Jimmy McLarnin as the
~, ho tho
procedure which he previously fol-
lowed before meeting Barney Ross in
New York last May, ver1 little action
can be expected in this class.
have nothing but praise for the
title holder in the lightweight di-
vision. Barney Ross seems to be a
very active young man, having Suffi-
cient confidence in himself and his
ability to stand off any and all con-
tenders. This division seems to have
more worthy contenders at the pres
ent time than any other class and
should certainly produce some Won
derful contests during the coming
year.
The outstanding bantamweight at
this time is Sixto Escobar, not for
getting, of course, that Panama Al
Brown is supposed, in Continental
Europe, to be the champion. Brown,
in my opinion, will never compete
again in America. He has aged con-
siderably and do not believe he
would be. even worthy opponent for
Escobar.
HINT MEETC Rail-