The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-04-05
THE STORY OF THE WEEK
Brown and Bell Win National Titles
Former Class Of Tourney
Three Locals Come Thru = Large
Crowd BOOs Dade and Jordan Decisions

The 1941 National A.A.U. boxing
tournament came to close amid the
raucous cat-calls of disgruntled audi
ence. The long night of boxing had
brought the crowd to its feet on several
occasions protesting against unfavor-
able decisions. Such a display of
crowd participation that the Hub had
never seen before left an indelible i'm
preston on the minds and in the hearts
Of all the many out-of-town visitors
and, even after the fans ceased their
vociferations, the comparable silence
which followed, as the crowd wended
its way through the many exits, was an
even greater indication that the show
was not fully enjoyed. To be sure,
other contests, in the three day show,
came up with questionable decisions
but none brought on such full participa-
ton. On two exciting occasions the
crowd which had gathered to see fair
play and craftsmanship rein among a
truly great group of youngsters stood
en- masse and booed the official judg-
ment of the bouts,
DADE =. FANS CHAMP TORPY
A.A.U'S
Little Harold Dade, wearing the
colors of Chicago, was the first to feel
the sensation of being the crowds
champion but not the "A. US.
Fighting like the real ringster he is,
Dade came through some of the best
competition ever offered in the fyweight
division to qualify for the tournaments
first final. 1t was long, burdensome
road he had to travel for he had been
closely watched by all other competi-
tors, in his class, as the boy to stop. His
were some of the hardest and most in
teresting bouts to see. Monday, during
the opening round, he qualified with
ease but the next night, during the
quarter-fnals, he was pushed to the
limit in order to cop the decision from
Frank Gerard. Against Gilbert Arce,
of California, he waged one of the best
fights of his local career a perform
ance that was topped only by his clever
ness and sheer punching proves in the
final bout for the class title. It was in
this final stand against Lawrence Torpy
that Dade had the unfortunate happen
stance of winning and yet, not win
ming. Torpy, the boring in type of
fighter, was met repeatedly with stiff
lefts and rights as he made his charges
forward Dade also raked him from
long range with clever left jabs which
brought the crowd to its feet on more
than one occasion yelling the well mean
ing "wow." After three rounds of
milling and hating his opponent al
most at will, the Chicagoan returned to
his corner amid wild acclamations only
to see the chief clerk, a moment later
raise his hand toward Torpy's corner
in token of victory.
FANS GO WILD BOO DECISION
From the very moment the victory
had been awarded Torpy pandemonium
broke loose and the large crowd came
to its feet voicing its dissatisfaction
For what appeared as being a good
three minutes there was nothing heard
in the large Garden save the boos of the
fans. The introduction of the presi-
dent of the National A.A.U. seemed
only to intensity the bedlam fol
Boston was not in a receptive mood, il
had seen the most unsportsmanlike deci
sion ever rendered. All this, without
question, impressed the A.A.U. officials
like nothing else. The many visitors
from different sections of the country
must have felt that it was a rather
crude way of showing disappointment
But while later, after the awards had
been made and the fighters left the
ring, first the victor and then the van.
pushed, they learned, first hand, how
Boston halls a real winner. For ever
the most sensitive ears couldn't hear
anything that resembled applause as
Torpy left the ring, not as a protesta.
ton for the victors acceptance but as g
rebuke against the Judgment of the
bout. Then, as Dade clambered through
the ropes, there came such a din from
the wild cheering that even the little
fyweight was seen to hesitate, lust q
bit, as he made his way down from the
1.ipor