BOXING CLUB’S MONOPOLY

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28260, 24 April 1957, Page 17

BOXING CLUB’S MONOPOLY

U.S. Government Seeks Dissolution

(NJS. Press Association Copyright) NEW YORK, April 22 The United States Government, pressing its monopoly charges against the International Boxing Club, asked Judge Sylvester Ryan today to direct the complete dissolution of the vast promotion empire controlled by Jim Norris and Arthur. Wirtz. The Government also asked the Court to order Norris and Wirtz, president and vice-president of the 1.8. C. of New York and Chicago, to dispose of their shares in the Madison Square Garden Corporation, New York, within six months. In counter-proposals submitted by the defendants, the 1.8. C offered to relinquish its domination of the boxing game so that it might be permitted to remain in the promotion business. The 1.8. C. concessions included the abandonment of its long-prac-tised “exclusive” contracts with boxers, fight arenas, subsidiary promoters, and television, radio and motion picture films. Judge Ryan ruled on February 8 that the 1.8. C. was guilty and gave both sides a specified period to file proposed decrees for remedying the monopolistic conditions of boxing. The proposals by the Government and the defendants were formally filed today. Judge Ryan set May 20 to hear oral arguments by both parties. In his final judgment, Judge Ryan can decide to accept today’s proposals by either side, or decree a compromise between the two. In any case, the 1.8. C. is not restrained from promoting the Gene Fullmer-Sugar Ray Robinson middle-weight title fight at Chicago on May 1, or any other championship bout it has planned before the final judgment.