8
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
1938.
TWO SURPRISES REGISTERED AT FOREST HILLS
K.O..
for the
B.B.B.O
ENTLEMEN-You must
G
know that nearly every- thing is wrong with pre- sent-day professional boxing. How much are you to blame for the muddle into which it has drifted?
Let me take your minds back to the March of 1929, when the 1880- ciation was launched as the British Boxing Board of Control. I know that the constitution and regula- tions were framed after much arduous work. A limited number of stewards were appointed: men famous in many of the professions, but few intimately connected with professional boxing.
Every name was meant to carry prestige! Legal "big shots" like the late Sir Henry Curtis Bennett, K.C., Mr. Roland Oliver, K.C., Bir Walter T. Monckton, KC., that well-known racing official, Bir William Bass, Viscount Bearsdale, Earl of Drogheda and many others. We were told-and wore ready to believe it that the newly-created body was not only going to control and safeguard boxing, but to clean it up. But it is now in a worse condition than ever, During the torty years that I have been actively and intimately connected with pugilism it has never been in nuch a low plight.
BOXING to-day is leas a sport and more a racket than any other gate- money spectacle. Revolt is sceth- ing in the ranks, open antagonism in various quarters.
Preliminary boxers declare that they earn only a seant pittance after the rake-off has been col- tected; contenders become "Ind up
because of the dilly-dallying. with the never-ending series of eliminating contests.
Then again, there is the impresarlo, the big-fight chief, without whom big purses would not be possible. Most suth men, from what they have told sue, are more than dissatisfied with the lux Imposition they are compelled to pay.
This, of course, is a matter of opinion. If promoters are to be given the protection of a governing body Then, the latter say, they must make a contribution to the financial chest, but I have yet to learn what benefits the promoter receives for paying the Lnx. "It certainly would be of interest to know.
It may be argued from your stand- point that a dearth of talent is mainly responsible for the depression in box- office attractions. There in, unguCE- tionably, poverty among most of the different weights. Yet what is being done by your Board to encourage youngstera?
YOUR essential regula tions are for the control of boxing... to promote and safeguard the interests of the British professional
boxers throughout the world.
But you have also pledged yourselves" in your printed "objects" to en- courage professional boxing in the United Kingdom.
How have you carried out this promise? The boxing public-those who, through the newspapers, follow the careers of the Aghters and those who give their practical support at the box-office-would be glad to be en- ightened.
Time and again readers of the
HOME SOCCER RESULTS
Leicester Register Second Victory
Tommy Farr-wearing the Lonsdale belt after he had just won it.
OPEN LETTER
to the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control by the "Daily Herald" Boxing Expert.
written "Dally Herald have strongly protesting about the alleged "Slar Chamber" methods Many on Mersey- of the Board. side were indignant and disgusted, for instance, when the former Chris. schoolboy champion, "Ginger" Foran, was denied the opportunity of meeting Johnny McGrory. Glasgow holder of the British feather-weight champion- ship, after Foran had decisively beaten the title-holder.
That affair was a bad break for one of the most gentlemanly boxers in stiltude Britain. In the provinces the
of the Board was soverely criticised.
Then again, the recent suspension af the American, Phil Zwick, has created great amount of bitter resentment in New York. Two of the most pro- minent newspaper critics, Dan Parker and Nat Fletcher, have since used The Strange Case of Phil Zwick to taunt the British with their peculiar sense of fairplay.
To me this was one of the most mysterious suspensions of a boxer, He was not only one of the most popular Americans to realde in England, but had the support of many influential Yet Zwick's sentence was people. carried out after his appeal had been dismissed
THE stewards may be in- different
the D.J to opinion of that usually honest critic, the man in the street." If they are, let me tell them they are riding for a fall.
It would have been much better for everybody concerned if the Board and why frankly published the reasons Zwick was penalised so drastically.
Before he left England Zwick called to tell me in most emphatic language that the Board would be sick and sorry for suspending an innocent man. From his evidence he apparently had not broken any regulation; but the Board must, and did, have a reason for its decision.
of
Why did the Board refrain from publishing its reason, as when disraiss- ing the appeal of Tommy Farr? Sup pression
to nobody's news is interest.
The National Boxing Association- formerly the National Union of Boxers -claims that it came into existence because
Beard your
ignored the interests of the underdogs of boxing. There is a great deal of truth in the assertion.
to co-operate The NDA wanted with you. For reasons you believe to be against your constitution you turned them down. This is another of your decisions that I feel sure you will one day regret. The N.B.A. bas won many sympathisers to its cause.
Now I am in full agreement with many of your legislative declalona. Control completely impartial control
Polo Star Serving A Prison Team
Washington, Sept. 0.
The War Department disclosed to day that Capt. McDonald Jones, star polo player, began serving a five- year term in the Federal
-is essential for such a dimou business as professional boxing.
I can assure you that I am not Mine has an Aunt Sally "fan." been a lifetime spent with boxing and boxers. The great majority are very human, decent living men whose ambition is to make their families as comfortable as they possibly can, The few irrespon- ables bring unfair discredit on boxing as a whole.
British boxing, I maintain, would become brighter and more entertaining If the so-called eliminating series were scropped.
And acrop also the rule-ridiculous in my contention-that "a champion shall not be called upon to defend his title until the expiration of six months from the date of winning or success- fully defending the title."
THE Golden Age of box- ing was brought about by champions fighting for titles as often as opponents could be found for them. Both Jim Driscoll and Jimmy Higgins won outright Lonsdale beite within one year!
Take a concrete case now. If Daye Crowley had to defend his light-weight title at all times what a blaze of excitement he would cause to flare in the South.
Think of those two justy young chat-
Eric lengers,
Boon
Arthur and Danahar. waiting for a tilt at the champion's crown-and thousands of young sportsmen craving for these matches!
Yel Crowley may take advantage of the rules and rightly refuse to defeuL his championship until the end of thË year. He will try to make espital out of the title, although, knowing him as- I do. the Clerkenwell boxer wouldn't mind if he were fighting either boy at the end of this month.
And again, those irritating "eliml- natora "! I know that the majority of fight followers look upon these long-drawn-out affairs as pure farce. Most of them are. My suggestion in that eliminators" should be dis carded and championship contender competitions at various weights staged to start and finish inside a month.
YES, I know that boxers' managers will object But who cares? It is the public that must be studied, not merely boxers or their agents. Think of the national interest that
would be awakened in boxing if we had at least two title Oghts every month.
And will the Stewards consider the necessary question of looking after the interests of the young aspiranta? IL baffles me to know why the Board con- tinues to allow six-round Aghters to have managers who do not understant the elementals of a boxer's training.
They represent ene branch of the chiselling service Will the Stewarda hold an inquiry about this great abuse? We are waiting for their reply,
Вини
Jimmy Butler
Attempt On Capt. Eyston's Speed Record
John Cobb Fails By
A Narrow Margin
As I See Sport
By "Abo"
PORTUGAL LOOKS SET FOR BOWLS INTERNATIONAL
TOURNAMENT
WHEN one looks back upon the
WH
fine record of the Club
de
Recreio in local Lawn Bowls com- ENGLISH
petitions, one cannot help wondering
why Portugal has never been able
to win the International Shield, RACING
presented by Mr. L. A. Gutierrez, a member of the Club, in commemora
the Open access in tion of his success
Singles championship in 1032. There are enough Portuguese players from whom to choose a rink good enough: to carry off the tournament; but the that somehow in Shield has been up for competition, the right combination has not yet been found. This year, the Por- tuguese Selectors hit upon the idea
the
years
CALL-OVER
Cambridgeshiro And Cesarewitch
London, Sept. 12.
The following is the call-over for
Zaimis (0)
15/1
Damlata (D), 2000 (th
100/0
Agincourt luf
20/1
Gainly (0)
20/1 Bunny Duck (a)
20/1
Michomy to
25/1 Carlists (0)
25/1
25/1
Lail (0)
25/1
Couvert (or
25/1 Daytona (0)
23/
Sansalvo (a)
25/1
Innlahibon (0)
25/1
Pactoula (0)
25/1 Artista Prince (0)
3/1
Golden Sovereign it. and. a.)
33/1
Thankerton to)
33/1
Caerlopile (0)
3/1 Foxglove (0)
of changing their players in the the Cambridgeshire:
Not a very good various matches.
it but method, admittedly,
buy the worked, and Portugal is now in the Anal with Scotland as her opponent. The Will this be Portugal's year? six players who have represented Portugal in the two matches she played have certainly been showing impressive form, and they need only to produce the same standard to be sure of victory: especially in view of the fact that Scotland only just scraped through against what generally regarded as a weak China team. Certainly the Scots will have to improve appreciably if they ex- pect to beat Portugal in the Anal and thus put Scotland's name on the trophy for the second time, Judging by the form of the respective rinks Jn the carlier rounds, Portugal seems to have more
than
a fifty- fifty chance of winning the trophy at inst. And if she does, there
be
no hoppler man than Mr. Gutierrez, the donor, who has waited
33/1 Sea Bequest (0) 33/1
Mannance (0)
33/1 San Miguel (0) 3371
Rantapa (1, and o.)
33/1 Dan Bulger (u)
13/1
Le Ksar (0), 40/1 (1)
40/1 Quarter Maitre (0), D0/1 (0 40/1
30/1
Bintal to), 43/1 (t) Khamader (0), 45/1 (2)
-Reuter.
CESAREWITCH
London, Sept. 12.
The following is the call-over for
in vain these five years to see his the Cesarewitch: country's name engraved Shield.
A Wastod Green
un
Lhe
100/6 Epigram (0)
100/0 Slipon (0)
THE excellent performance of the Chinese rink against Scotland in semi-finals on Sunday recalls the attempt mude fallure of
the the
during the last two years by the
Chinese R.C. to interest their mem- bers in the game. A very fine green lina been laid at Causeway Bay st 113 considerable expense
to the Club:i
but for all the use that has been
made of it since it was ready for might never have been laid
play
It
at all! Members of the Club seem to be for too keen on tennis and
amusements indoor
their
to have any time to spare for bowls. It is at a pity. For with the aptitude the Chinese to shine in any new idind of
of ball-game, I am sure that in short time, the Chinese RC. would be able to turn out players as good as those of any other club
in a
10/1 Snipewood to)
20/1 Punch (o)
20/1 Fet (0)
20/1 Snake Lightning (0)
25/1 Celibate (0)
20/ Michoumy fo)
23/1
anticid ()
25/1
Near Relation (0)
3/1
Trevisant (a)
Marcu Superbus (0)
25/1 Bunol to)
25/1 Foring (0)
30/1 Valerian (a) |
/I 33/i 53/1 40/1
Harewood (0)
Senor (o)
Winnebar (0)
Botree (a)
-Reuter,
25/1 Naval Display (a).
ONE BASEBALL TIE DECIDED
New York, Sept. 12. Only one match was played in the Baseball League to-day, the Detroit Tigers beating Chicago White Sox
in the Colony. When the green why 4-3 in the American circuit. being laid, it was generally under- all local bowlers that to
stood by
R. H.
E.
3
Q
2
4
7
(Greenberg scason.
homered
for
the
Chicago their ranks would shortly be added members from the C.R.C. and that Detroit the Club would participate in the League during the 1938 However, owing to the lack of en-Tigers).-Reuter. thusiasm shown by the Chinese, all
come to these
expectations have nought-and a fine green is wasted. I am now told that since there is the members
ttle
taking
the
kelihood
of
up the Rame suggestion has been put forward to re-convert Into tennis courts To Me green
is difcult outsiders, it
to understand why the green was even laid if the all on the members were not keen at all on the
Whether it is true or not, I game,
I have been cannot
say, but
formed by member that
the
111. game was never given a really fair trial. A few have gone on the green and rolled a few woods, but as nearly all were beginners they could not attain any great measure of skill and gradually the game, never at any ime really popular with the mem- bers, died a natural death. What a shame that such a splendid green as this should be allowed to run to aced! There are many clubs in Hongkong which would give a lot to have the space and the money to lay down a green like this; and yel, with one all ready for them, mem- bers of the C.R.C. studiously avald
it.
Hockey Visit Possible
AN Item in a recent Stralis paper
A reveals that apart from a visit
from the Hongkong Area hockey team, Singapore is also expecting an touring side, containing
Indian
Singapore. It
they
oral penitentiary Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, Sept. 12. several of India's Olymple team, to at Atlanta, Ga. last week.
John Cobb, driving -2,500- pass through that city this year. Capt. Jones was dishonourably dis- London, Sept. 12.
charged from the Army, court-mar-power Railton ear, narrowly failed seems that the Indian players are Leicester City won their second piled at Fort Bliss, Tex, and to break the former world record set to make a tour of Japan and it is match of the season in the First convicted of attempled felony, up by Captain Eyston who recently probable therefore that on their long stay Division of the Engilsh Football conduct prejudicial to good order establislied the 345.40 miles per hour way to that country they will visit League to-day, beating Birmingham and discipline and conduct unoocom- at home by the odd goal in three..and an officer and a gentleman. The mark. Cobb averaged 342.52 during enough in Singapore, it is hoped to
an early morning run: here to-day,
local talent. This news should be Second Division, both resulting nate on the case-United Press.
Two matches were played in the War Department declined to clabor- averaging 344.8 on, Uie- southward Arrangea game between them and. run and 341.5 on the northward run of interest to Colony hockey players draws.
As a result of winning their away
Cobb stated later that he would because if the Indians pass through match against Rotherham, Barnsley
2 certainly try again since the camp Singapore they probably will also
between have gone to the head of the table
ness of the flats certainly alowed the touch Hongkong, in which caas a
the visitors and in the northern section of the Third
car up considerably,The car, was, game
Dewas Team selected, from the Colony may Division:
perfectly satisfactory,
be fixed.
de- Of course, nothing 12p, Captain Eyston, who told of the finites yet known by the hockey attempt, did not disclose he had authorities in Singapore, who further plans for establishing a new only hoping that the game will come
•Results of matches played to-day were!"
SEA FIRAT DIVISION.
Tottenham.
* Shefeld U. THIRD DVISION (SOUTH)
⚫ Aldersbes Bristol R
THIRD DIVISION (NORTH) Handfærd 0. do 1 Halifax Doncaster
5 Rochdale › 4.... Bartow
U STAVCONDA DIVISIONS LA LON
are
Cricket
G.
AMERICAN Australians DAVIS CUP PLAYER IS *Not Doing
DEFEATED 'Too Well
London, Sept. 12.
At Scarborough to-day. Mr. H. D.
Leveson Gower's XI declared
their first innings ng 303 for eight wickets in reply to the Australian tourists' total of 300.
Helen Jacobs Also Beaten
Forest Hills, N.X., Sept. 12. Joe Hardstuff, the English Test Two surprises were registered to- batsman, scored 108 for Mr. Leveson day in the American National tennis Gower's team, while Leonard Hut-championships now in progress here. ton, the record-breaker, made 73 In the fourth round of the men's and Maurice Leyland 51.
singles, Gilbert Hunt defeated Bobby W. J. O'Reilly took four wickets Kiggs, the American Davis Cup play- for 75 runs.
er, by 6-2. 9-6, 9-7, 0-6, 6-4.
In the third round of the women's
Going In again. the Australians had not yet scored when stumps championship, Miss Margot Lumb. were drawn.
E. L. McCormick, the Australian fast bowler, pulled a leg muscle to- day and may not take further part in the matclt-Reuter,
REFEREES MEETING
of Great Britain, beat Miss Helen Jacobs, the Wimbledon runner-up.
7-6, 6-2. by
Miss Jacobs, who injured her ankle during the Wimbledon tourna- ment, showed no trace of her injury when the Forest Hills championships commenced.-Renter.
New Officers Selected general one, but following discus-
For Year
meeting began as an extraordinary sions and votes It was adjourned for a few minutes and resumed as the annual meeting.
Mr. G. F. Finch was elected Chair- man for the yeur and Mr. J. Hers, Mesars. Secretary and
Treasurer. C. E. Mellgrew, (Navy), S.
Mac..
The annual meeting of the Hong- kong Football Referees Association was held last night and was presided Cormack (Army) and R. M. Omar over by Mr. T. G. Stokes, assisted by (Civillan) were elected to the Com-
D. Kassick, Secretary. The mittee.
Mr.
YOU
CAN
BE
SURE
EXTRA
OF
EXSHAW
THE FINEST.COGNAC BRANDY SHIPPED EAST OF
Sole Agents:
SUEZ
Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co., Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS
Stocks all your requirements in ·
FOOTBALL, CRICKET,
BASKETBALL, HOCKEY,
BOXING, TENNIS,
BADMINTON, SQUASH
and GOLF
etc.,
etc.
Also indoor games
and athletic wear.
BEST MAKES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES Inspection Cordially; Invited.
29, Nathan Road, Kowloon. Tel. 56887