The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-04
Boxing In Boston

When EpoftSWr1terS dlSagree, the fans are in high glee' No one realizes better than the writer, the above is a 4-F line of rhyme, but if you get the PERNT (Brooklynese for "the big idea") am satisfied. Up in the Hub, there are two gentlemen of the sporting world, Doc Amy of the Post and Col. Dave Egan of the Record, whom I follow religiously. Both are highly respected by me, one for his age and experience as newspaper man, the other for his courage and ability to turn a neat phrase about every third paragraph, which Some- how Qike UNDER COVER) makes you keep on reading until FINS.
 wv VVVV
 Recently you may have read lit- tie about the charges of Boston city councillor Joe Scannen that boxing in Boston is in the hands of GAM BLERS, who are able to influence the votes of judges and referees. It all came about, because Scannell, ap- parently a fight fan, happened to be among these present last week when Izzy Jannazzo of Brooklyn, N. Y. and Ralph zanelli of Providence fought a ten-rounder; the official nod going to zanelli, though the ref- cree voted for Jannazzo. In Scan- nel1's opinion, as expressed at the next days meeting of the Boston City Council, "Jannazzo won 9 of 10 rounds. The referee gave it to the Brooklynite by TWO POINTS, but both JUDGES voted for zan- eli.
 Wednesdays POST and REC ORD disclosed the views on the matter, by Doc Amy and Dave Egan, and because they are as OP- POSITE as the North and South poles, and, incidentally, make good reading, if you like boxing, they are herewith presented for what they are worth in the way of en- tertainment:
 "Doc" AImy Says:
 Charges by City Councillor J. M. Scannell that pro boxing is "one of the biggest rackets in this city," also that ring decisions are render ed for gambling reasons, the same evidently provoked by the recent Zanelli vs. Jannazzo bout, while temporarily a bit exciting are noth- ing particularly new; hardly war rant the time, trouble and expense of an investigation which he should follow up by demanding. And perhaps he will We feel sure that boxing as now conducted in this city-as 1t has been since June, 1920 under the supervision of State Athletic Commission, a body ap- pointed by the Governor, and of which the head of the State police is chairman, can stand an investiga- tion if such a doubtful expedient seems necessary.
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 While we have no interest in gambling or other so-called" rack ets," such matters being up to the police and not a sports writer, we are of the view that the Coun- cillor's charges-which remain to be sustained-tendt to elevate what wagering goes on in connection with boxing to 8 far higher level in the public eye than the actual situation warrants.
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 AS for the recent Zannelli vs. Jan- nazzo affair, the decision as viewed by the several veteran sports writ CTS was correct and went to the right principal |. . Contrary to the state ment of the Councillor that JannaZ- 20 won nine out of 10 rounds, this writer and immediate associates in the working press benches gave him but three, the same entirely unin- fluenced by the promoting club, per sonality of ring officials, boohing from the galleries, So-called gam- blerS or any other Our views were based on damaging blows land- ed rather than the more spectacular efforts of Jannazzo which tended to make the summing up of several of the rounds fairly close.
 wv VVVv
 Entirely personal and an angle which we would have avoided had not the subject been brought into the limelight, Referee Ed Mc-Don- aid, who voted for Jannazzo, is an admired friend whose verdicts we usually sustain Further more, as we leaned to Jannazzo in our fight dope; were on friendly terms with his manager. and never have been 8 particular adm:rer of Zanellis style of bat ting, our natural inclination