Evening star., 1953-04-26
Action Is AppIauded
By Beaten Collins;
Danced After Bout
BY the Associoted Press

BY the Asseeiotsd Press
BOSTON, April Is. - The
Massachusetts State Boxing
Commission today absolved Ref
cree Tommy Rawson of any
negligence in last nights light
weight championship bout be-
tween Champion Jimmy Carter
and Tommy Collins.
Collins, one of Rawson's
staunchest defenders, is all for
the decision and told newsmen
so again today. Il was in good
enough shape to go dancing,
wasn't II" he asked.
That probably will come as q
surprise to the thousands of
televiSion viewers all over the
country who deluged newspaper
SwitchboardS with calls of pro-
test over Rawson'S allowing the
fight to continue as long as he
did. But the fact is that Collins
did go dancing last night after
getting knocked down 10 times
= in II minutes. He took his wife
to a dine-and-dance restaurant
and went for a whirl two or
three times to relax"
Little To Show For 1t.
Moreover, the same Collins
who appeared to be taking an
unmerciful beating at the hands
of the champion has only a
small plaster over his left eye
to show for it. A stitch was
taken in a cut over the eye.
Otherwise the popular Boston
1riShman looks fine.
Collins physical condition was
one of the factors prompting the
commissioners in their clearance
of Rawson today. They heard
evidence from the referee and
studied a statement from Collins
and a full report from DR.. Ed
ward H. Hommel official phy-
Sician for the bout. At the meet
ing were Brig. Gen. Otis M.
Whitney of the National Guard,
who is the State public safety
commissioner and eX-ofhcio box
ing chairman; Commissioners
Henry N. Lamar, formerly OF
Washington, and Tommy Nc
Farland and Rufus H. Bond,
commission secretary.
1T was decided" the COM
mission told newsmen, that
there was no negligence on the
part of any official connected
with the contest and apparently
Collins suffered no serious in
juries."
Carter Gives His View.
Back in his New York home
TO-DAY. Carter said he was on the
verge of appealing to the referee
to stop the fight, "but l decided
not to because I know referees
resent suggestions from fighters.
1T almost turned my stomach
to keep throwing punches at
Collins as he kept coming up
from each knockdown," the
champion continued. But had
to do it. He was throwing those
desperation punches although he
could only see out of one eye.
Remember, it takes only one of
those punches to end a fight.
And my championship was on
the line"
Collins supported RaWson from
the time the bout ended at 2:28
of the fourth round. Il was still
swinging, wasn't -" he said.
1--WE been knocked down before
and got up and won."
That's what Lawson appar-
emily had in mind when he let
the fight continue.
ut was a championship fight
and I had to give him every
chance" he said. Hes gotten
off the floor several times and
won fights. Each time he was
knocked down I looked into his
eyes. They were clear and l
asked him if he was okay and
each time he assured me. he was.
He was relaxed at all times, not
rigid"
Entirely Up to Referee.
Many of the televieWerS who
called newspaper switchboards
also had unkind words to say
about Collins corner. Actually
it was solely up to the referee.
According to Massachusetts State
law, seconds and handlers are
not allowed to stop fight and
the presiding physician can only
advise the referee.
Among those voicing sharp
criticism of Rawson were George
Barton, president of the Ma
tional Boxing Association. and
Robert K. Christenberry, chair
man of the New York State
Athletic Commission. Barton
said he would take away Raw
sons license if the fight had
taken place in his home State OF
Minnesota. ChriStenberry said
that everything we've done to
make it a clean. competitive
sport they've thrown to- the
wind"
A fan wired Boston police
from Portsmouth, Va, urging
that Rawson be charged with
attempted homicide"
But Collins says everybody
should've seen him dancing.