FOULS IN BOXING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 13

FOULS IN BOXING

TIME THEY CEASED, SAYS EUGENE CORRI UNRULY SECONDS A NUISANCE The art that was once called “noble” has lost much of its prestige recently by reason of unsatisfactory and unsavoury terminations of fights, and it is quite time that this vogue of fouls ceased. To take a recent incident (says Eugene Corri): Young Baldock won his contest with the Frenchman Emile Pladner, on a foul, but it is the Frenchman and not the Poplar boxer who goes forward to big things in the near future as the virtual winner of that fight. The referee ruled instantly that Baldock had been hit low. and from this decision there could be no appeal. Criticism, however, cannot be stifled, and many close observers, and wholly impartial critics, formed the opinion that Pladner’s punch landed above the belt in the region of the solar plexus A blow of that nature causes demonstrations of pain exactly similar to those which Baldock gave, but it does not appear that he was in any condition to take Pladner’s body blows. Th»fact, I think, goes to the root of the whole matter and ends all controversy. It might here be stressed that Gone Tunney himself always pooh-poohed fouls in a general way. He argued that so long as referees would freely concede fouls just so long would ther- 3 be boxers and managers who would claim them on the slightest pretext. Tunney used to assert that he would hate to win any fight in that manner since such a decision led nowhere. NOT EASY TO DELIVER It is indeed unfortunate for Phil Scott’s good name that at least on six occasions he has claimed fouls and had those claims substantiated On other occasions his appeals have been rejected, but I cannot for one moment imagine Billy Wells—with all his bodily vulnerability—ever claiming a foul. Frankly, I do not believe that any notable boxer would wilfully foul an opponent even to save himself the disgrace of defeat. It is also true that accidental fouls are not nearly so easily delivered as might be imagined. There is a further point which 1 also .want to stress strongly—in fart deplore. I refer to the extraordinary and unruly behavious of seconds who have lately taken to the practice of egging on their respective men from their corners This must be peremptorily forbidden, since it works incalcuable mischief and is both unfair and unsportsmanlike. Xot long ago in London I was harassed and hindered in the discharge of the onerous duties of a referee by a second running along the ropes and shouting hysterical advice to his man in the ring. There is no possible excuse for such behaviour, and. personally speaking, if it should occur again I propose taking drastic steps to stop it. I should, at least, have the backing of all who have the welfare of British boxing at heart.