How Long will Prize Fighting be Permitted.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 14 August 1914, Page 2

How Long will Prize Fighting be Permitted.

Just recently they had what they called a boxing match in Canada. Hefore the boxing began, by way of showing how respectable it was, a clergyman was introduced, who made a little speech and said that boxingwas very nice and harmless. • Presently the men began fighting. And this happened, according to a local description : " The gong sounded. McCarty waited for Pelky, wearing- a smile. When Pelky was within range, Luther led a left. Pelky easily side-stepped and swung; short an easy right to head. Luther once more resorted to a leit jab, but again it was short. Failing to draw Pelky into a lead, Luther rushed. Pelky side-stepped and put a left to the jaw. '-.McCarthy swung a glancing right to Pelky's ribs and made another rush. Pelky met him with a short ' right hook to chest, which some claim landed about two inches below the heart. McCarthy clinched, and at the call of the referee shoved '■ Pelky back. McCarthy then raised his gloves and .|/boked toward Mci Carney, his manager, and winked. He was preparing to land an upper- '■ cut, as had been planned ahead. ! "Suddenly his hands went above his head, his eyes took on a glassy stare, and he toppled slowly back to the canvas, where he lay with his head slightly under the ropes. His breath came in quick, short gasps. "Luther did not attempt to rise. Billy McCarney began to yell for a doctor. Eight were soon working over McCarty, but efforts were unavailing. He was carried out to the open air, where he died half an hour after being counted out." That reads very much like the ordinary description of one of these brutal exhibitions, except that in this particular case one of the men was killed—murdered. And the reverend gentleman who was there to apologise for prize fighting did not feel quite as happy and proud as he did at first. How long is a community calling itself civilised going to permit, legalise, and regulate prize-fight brutality ?