The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-12
BIG STICK USED IN CONNECTICUT
 PURGE OF RING.
s Sweeping Cleanup Fol- lows Mann=McC Coy
 Meeting
By WILLIAM D. CLARK

By WILLIAM D. CLARK
 United Press Stan Correspondent)
 Hartford, June 12 (UP)-Profes- sional and amateur boxing are get- ting a washing behind the ears" by Connecticut's Athletic Commis- sioner Frank sCoskey in a determin- ed attempt to rid the sport of un- desirable elements.
 The pros were the first to feel the official scrubbing brush-aS result of the Nate Mammal Mccoy heavy weight fight. N
 Mann and Mccoy were paired in a 10-round feature match at Bridge port. Coskey stopped the bout in the second round after Mann had been knocked down four times. The commissioner charged Mann,s hand lers with throwing water on the fighters to revive him, holding his foot to keep him from getting up before the count of nine, and he specifically accused Mann's manager Marty Krompier, with sounding the timekeeper's bell 50 seconds ahead of the three-minute round limit to save him from a knockout.
 Benny Leonard Barred
 Krompier'S license was revoked; {; Benny Leonard, former worlds lightweight champion, who refereed the bout, was permanently barred from Connecticut rings and Mccoy officially was awarded the fight on a technical knockout in 2 minutes and 50 seconds of the second round.
 Leonard, a guest referee, was accused of preventing Mccoy from renewing his attack on Mann as the latter, struggled to his feet dur ing one of the many knockdowns.
 Mann, whose hopes of getting back into the 'big ten"' for another crack at Joe Louis, was held guilt less and was paid his end of the purse and allowed to retain his li- cerse.
 Then, in an unprecedented edict, Coskey ordered that hereafter all guest" or honorary" referees cari- not officiate at star bouts unless they obtain a license from the com- mission.
 - Boxing Code Revised
 Laconically referring to the whole affair Coskey declared:
 we don't want anything like that again in Connecticut"
 And to make sure, he ordered a revision of the professional boxing code to tighen up the regulations on referees.
 As for the amateurs, Coskey ap- pealed to the attorney general to create new class, such as "junior- pro" or "semi-pro" to cover the simon -pures who have been receiv- ing pay for their efforts.
 The simple expedient of removing the word amateur" from the stat utes would not be enough, accord ing to the commissioner.
 "The laws of the state specify that we must supervise amateur boxing and I am loath to take the necessary steps to remove them. Some day that rare bird known as a true amateur may crop up and how could we provide for him?"
 Coskey appealed to the attorney general for advice on anything that will enable us to get rid of the stigma of 'shamateurism" but will not prevent us from keeping this class segregated from the out and-out pro-
 Situation Has Improved
 of course" headed, there is always the possibility of paying of under the bridge" or restorting to the redeemable prize system of pay ing, but I will never be g party to such hypocrisy, for as bad as things are today we are much better off with the boys getting paid in the open"
 The Connecticut A. A. U., long ago washed its hand of amateur boxing. So many simon-purses were exchanging their watches and other prizes for cash, and professionals were appearing in amateur bouts, that the A. A. U. relinquished juris- diction over the class and has re- peatedly refused to again take them under its wing.
 This attitude was a hardship on the true amateurs and prevented Connecticut lighters from participat- ingin tournaments in other other state.
 Some years ago Buddy Howard took the heavyweight amateur crown in Connecticut and then went on to win the New England crown at Boston. Because the A. A. U. re- fused to recognize him because Con- necticut was ostracized from the as- sociation, Howard was forced to retsIrY, his tronhieS.