The Washington times., 1935-07-15

AMA 1A4AAVS - i = = ! A. ~
Monday afternoon.
The Legion, possessing a
promoters license and a
lease from the Government
which controls what once
was Camp Meigs, has been
flirting with Howard Living
ston since last fall, to become
its matchmaker, picking up
where the former local ring
producer, Charlie Swan, left
off.
The original proposition
made the Legion by Livingston
being unsatisfactory, the Le'
gion held off until it could get
some semblance Of a fair divi-
sion Of the gate, before allow
ing Livingston to proceed
which was last week.
Livingston went ahead to line
up a very good card, on paper,
which turned out to be more
than a respectable card, on
canvas; but behind the scenes
the customary juggling which
is a part of the ring racket, was
going on, details Of which are
approximately as follows:
Two Gun Men
Mike Bellois and Joe Rivers
were originally contracted with
to appear for % per cent with
q $500 privilege. The bout was
released to the public and in
the days before the fight a mys-
terious telephone call from
Washington located Bellois'
manager, who was advised to
NOT come to the Legion Arena
on a percentage unless he ex.
pected to get only about $50 or
$50 for the services Of his
fighter.
The hour for the main go
arrived and the Bellois interests
up and demand $500 cash in
advance, which was not in the
house.
Rivers Takes a Cue
Meanwhile the Rivers inter.
eStS hear of the move and
announce to the promoter that
Joe also will be unavailable for
fighting purposes unless he re-
ceive the same advance finan-
cial consideration accorded Bel.
lois.
So the 5000 was dug up by
the resourceful Livingston, who
did not relish the immediate
prospect of his first pro.
motion going on the rocks
to the point of disappointing
the faithful followers of fistiana
who had gathered to see the
slaughter.
This sample Of "first-night-
ing" on the part of the Legion.
Livingston liaiSon would seem
to indicate that the future of
their enterprise derendS on how
long they can stand by and
have a gun stuck in their ribs
just at a time when they hope
to put on their main act.
Where Is Commission?
But even that statement, or
opinion, if you please, doesn't
explain how the D. c. Boxing
Commission ian stand by and
permit one fight promoter to
have first call on all Monday
night fight dates.
Offers Olive Branch
Sometime, before launching in
to its latest pugiliStic promotion,
our veteran friends approached
the stronghold Of MessrS.
Turner and Ahearn with an
olive branch, seeking a division
Of the orthodox fight nights.
Mondays, in that Turner and
Ahearn are not showing on
more than an average of every
other Monday. Your CommiS-
sion has not enough sense Of
duty to split these Monday
nights twixt promoters.
It must be remembered that
for some reason or other Mon
day seems to have a charm for
fight followers in Washington.
Every promoter here has sought
that day on which to intrigue
the customers.
Turned down cold by Turner
and Ahearn, in the face of the
fact that a year ago before they
combined, Turner couldn't un-
derstand why some of the Mon
day nights Ahearn had clinched
from the commission couldn't
be his; the Legion decided to re-
taliate by not only invading the
fight field, but by invading the
wrestling field, staging their
wrestling on the nights Turner
plus Ahearn would be holding
fights and their fights on the
(Contirusd on Page ~, Col. y