The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-27
mo foul" RULE
IN n. Y. RINGS
MENACES LOUIS
BY FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

in his impending fight with
Tommy Farr than the punches Of
the walloping Welshman. The
members of the New York State
Athletic Commission contend that
any fighter who enters the ring
equipped according to regulations
of the board, is, or should be I'M
mune to fouls.
A lethal smash to the chin de-
livered on q break; terrific blow
delivered below the belt either by
accident or design. is just an Incl
dent in the eyes of GothamS fistic
peppers. It is very much like the
destruction of Shanghai, and the
slaughter Of helpless non-combat-
ants. It is not a war in the strict
Interpretation of the word: just a
lot of boys having some good,
clean fun.
ONLY LOSES THE ROUND
Although fouls are non-existant
in New York State, the commits
sioners have taken precautions
against their recurring in an I'M
guarded moment. The man who
commits what used to be foul in
New York loses the round in
which the breach of ethics &C.
ours. He also is warned by the
referee. Sort of you didn't do
anything against the rules, but
don't do it again" proposition.
Boxing fans do not expect to
see Farr foul Louis. His record,
however, is that of rough and
rugged Scrapper, who was Schooled
in the coal pits Of a land where
men fought as their ancestors of
the pits fought before them. He
is known as a fighter who is apt
to butt a man. A butt over an
eye might easily injure Louis so
badly as to cost him his title.
Another thing that must be
considered along this line is that
Farr is a weaver. He walks in
and makes a man lead to him.
Then he sways inside or outside
of a lead and counters. If his
weave carries him inside Of the
punch, he might easily bump his
opponent most Internationally,
but most effectively. He might
close the round" but in the next
session, land a smash to the cut
optic that would compel interven-
ton by a referee.
Now here is another possibility
that makes betting men pause:
The fighters go into clinch. The
referee comes in, breaks them
with the usual order to "step
back" One fighter obeys, and
as he steps away, thoroughly re-
Taxed, his adversary throws a
right hand to the jaw.
That punch knocks the recipi-
ent half way across the ring. It
renders him incapable of defend
ing himself. The perpetrator Of
the foul-pardon me-the Incl
dent, walks over and lands an
other right that knocks the groggy
man down.
The bell rings, and the man who
threw the punch on the break
loses the round. But he presses
his advantage in the next round
and gains aScendency in the fight
which he never SurrenderS.
He loses a round, but he wins a
fight. 1t is well worth the gamble.
START COUNTING
Or let's put it another way. One
man or the other lands a low
punch, and the fighter taking the
blow raises his head in protest.
While protesting he is Socked on
the jaw and knocked out.
There's only one thing for the
referee in New York to do, and
that is to start counting. You
see, in Gotham, there is no such
thing as a foul.
Now lest it be stated that the
writer Is drawing wholly upon his
imagination and creating hypo-
thetical cases, let's go into the
facts of at least two fights. One
I saw, the other I heard by radio
In the Schmeling-Louis fight
the men were fighting as the bell
rang. Louis, hearing the bell,
dropped his guard. Schmeling
smashed him on the chin with q
right hand, and the Negro never
recovered. You could hear the
thud of that blow over the radio
When Jack Dempsey fought
Jack Sharkey, the Manassa Maulel
hit low punch. Sharkey turned
to the referee and while he was
protesting, Dempsey knocked hin
out.
The no foul rule Of the New
York State Athletic Commission
is the result Of one Of those
brainStormS that so frequently
upset individuals and groups. Il
did end an epidemic of fouls II
New York State when fighters
high and low, led by ''Phainting'
Phil Scott, that ham and bear
BritiSher, claimed fouls on an!
punch under their shoulders.
Neither the commission no
the promoters had sand enough
to throw fouling fighters out O.
rings and give their share O
purses to charity. That woulC
have stopped fouling and taking
But we have the no foul rule
and we have the menace Of 1t!
application confronting tn
champion and his challenger II
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