Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-08
Boxing Club
is Convicted
AS Monopoly
Curbs Competitors
For Title Fights,
u. S. Court Finds


Federal Court today found the
international Boxing Club OF
New York guilty of monopolizing
professional championship box
ing bouts.
Judge Sylvester j. Ryan held
that the club. its officers and
atfiliates had excluded COM
petitors in an unreasonable re-
straint of trade and commerce
THE defendants. as result
of their activities. acquired
power during the period covered
by the complaint June /, 1949
to May Is, 1852 to exclude
competitors from the promotion
of championship contests in the
United States" the judge said
in a 59-page opinion.
The antitrust suit was brought
by the Government.
Other DEFENDANTS Named
Named as defendants, besides
the 1BC of New York, were the
IBC, Inc. of Illinois; Madison
Square Garden Corp; James D
Norris. president of the New
York IBC. and Arthur NJ. Writ
Chicago IBC president.
The Garden is a large stock
holder in the two IBC organi-
cations.
The Government had charged
that the defendants, in violation
of the Sherman Antitrust Act
consplred to restrain and monop-
olize interstate and foreign COM
merce in the promotion. exhibit
ton. broadcasting, telecasting
and motion picture production
and distribution Of professional
championship boxing bouts.
Norris Issues Statement
Norris, in the Caribbean area
on a business trip, issued a
statement through his New York
Office saying he hoped the ruling
would not affect his summer
program.
THE courts decision was. Of
course. disappointment to me, ;
Mr. Norris said. "All l can say
at this time is that I hope We
will not be prevented from con.
tinuing TO present our Wednes.
day and Friday night fight.
which have proved such popular
radio and T'V attractions.
We have already contracted
for the Ray Robinson Gene Full.
mer fight to be held in Chicago
May ! and after that we hope
to continue our summer plans
This will depend. however. or
terms Of the DEGREES which will
be entered to carry out the court
decision.
The court has directed both
the Government and us to SUBJ
nit proposed DEGREES within the
next 30 days and there will he
hearing on these at a late,
a date"
Trial Held Last Spring
! The trial lasted nine days las,
. April and May.
, The Government stated in il,
: complaint that in the perioc
involved there were A worlc
championship matches in the
United States and that the de-
, PENDANTS promoted or partici.
. pated in the promotion of &c
/. OF them. or about 80 per cent.
In his opinion, the Judge sale
the defendants acquired "the
contracts with the four heavy.
weight contenders from Joe
Louis"
. He said they controlled Ike,
stadia and arenas and. procured
exclusive contracts with cham.
, pions and contenders.
The intent and result of theiI
6 activities. the judge held. wa,
!, ito obtain control of. and ex.
! clude others from. the promotion
: OF championship boxing contests
in the United States"
, THE defendants have beer
: engaged in combination anC
: conspiracy in unreasonable re-
straint of trade and commerc,
, :. and were parties to contracts
agreements. arrangements ant
UNDERSTANDINGS in unreasonable,
restraint of such trade and com
merce," Judge Ryan said.
Control Over Arenas
. Judge Ryan held that other
promoters we're excluded from
promoting championship bout.
, as result of control exercised
! by the defendants over their owr
, arenas and exclusive leases they
, held for other arenas and stadia
: The IBC ruling is the second
, important court decision in II
| days involving the antitrust
+, status Of sports.
On February Is the Supreme
Court ruled by vote of 6-3 that
professional football is subject tc
! Federal antitrust laws.
. Organized baseball has beer
under fire for so years on the
grounds that its operations arc
: in violation of these laws.