Evening star., 1938-07-11
Calling of Score er Each Round Advocated for c. Boxing
|AHEARN IS READY
TO GIVE It TRIAL
Owen to Put Suggestion Up
to Board-La Fond Sees
Benefit to Game.
BY BURTON HAWKINS.

BY BURTON HAWKINS.
The boxing industry. unique In many
respects, has remained mysteriously
aloof and alone In puzzling its patrons
and participants. It is the only sport
which steadfastly has refused to re-
veal to customers and combatants the
ofI1cial progress Of the contest until it
is over thus removing much Of the
thrill and. perhaps. the prospect of
Turing more spectators. Apparently
there is no sane reason for the failure
to divulge q running score of bouts.
For some seasons now a baseball
umpire has been exposed to the wrath
Of the mob. but baseball has survived.
There is no secret about ball or
strike-or the score. A ma jestic up
swing Of an arm by the umpire behind
the plate indicates a strike to every
fan. II any doubt fingers in the mind
OF . neophyte it Is erased a second
later when it Is flashed on the score
board
There Is q slide at home plate. Fans
aren't forced to wait until the end Of
the game to discover If that man
scored. Umpires authoritatively re.
move all doubt, often risking a ripe
and prolonged booing, and it appears
from here that much criticism of the
boxing game would be eliminated
through the simple expedient Of al
lowing fans to appreciate what is
happening.
Few Know How to Score.
In short, We advocate the announce
ment after every round of how Judges
and the referee scored that particular
round.
From baseball and football to bad
minton and bowling the score never is
. guarded secret. Boxing, where the
idea OF beating the other guy is re-
duced to its crudest form, probably
is the axis Of all sports, yet remains
IN the horse-and-buggy stage from
the angle Of catering to the customer.
Decisions too often come as a
startling surprise. Even when Judges
experience acute cases Of astigmAtism
spectators could be prepared for the
worst gradually. Not one person In
10 knows how to score a bout. how
many points are deducted for q foul,
but there never have been many OBJ
jections to education.
Frequently fighters. feeling they have
compiled healthy margin. are con-
tent to coast" in the late rounds. loaf
ing in false security. II they know
the score, know 1t Is close, 1t is bound
to be q better fight. BY the same
token q fighter . few points behind
would evoke more enthusiasm In an
effort to close that gap. perhaps au-
thortng risks he otherwise wouldn't
initiate and thus make for Q more
entertaining evening.
La Fond Supports idea.
Eddie La Fond. one of the more
astute referees in the Nation, en-
Enthusiastically indorses the proposal
4 think 1t would be tremendous
help to the game" informed Eddie.
1T would eliminate much Of the un-
warranted booing Of officials because
fans wouldn't forget the score Of those
early rounds.
Frequently fighter rallies in the
last two or three rounds" continued
La Fond. but not enough to offset
the margin his opponent won earlier
in the fight. Fans forget those early
rounds now. but they wouldn't II they
had the figures before them. I can't
see why the score should be kept a
secret
Matchmaker Goldie Ahearn also
Aeels the plan would click. Il think
sou have something there" offered
Goldie. Get permission from the
Boxing Commission and I'll try the
idea on next weeks show. Lotsa
times the public blames me for de-
cisions Of the judges and referees.
I'd like to see it brought out In the
open"
Commissioner Studies Plan.
Claude Owen, member Of the Dis
trict Boxing Commission, reserved
opinion pending further study Of the
idea. but could find no haw and plans
to bring it before Maj. Ernest W.
Brown and Fred Buchholtz. remain
ing members of the body, imme-
diately.
I've never heard Of that being done
anywhere else, remarked Owen. but
that wouldn't influence me In render
ing . decision. Naturally I haven t
given it any thought, but I can see
where it would have advantages. How
ever, 1t may have its disadvantages, so
we'll explore it thoroughly"
1t. Jack Kennedy, a California
referee. Is the only arbiter known to
the writer who has attempted any
thing along the same line. Kennedy.
according to those who have seen him
in action, points to the corner Of the
fighter leading at the end Of the sew
enth or eighth round.
Tho District Boxing Commission
gave boxing q neat boost by inaugural
ing . fund for injured boxers and has
kept the game amazingly clean here.
1t may start something worthwhile in
adopting the plan. At least It deserves