“Soggy Gloves Cause Ring Deaths”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30108, 17 April 1963, Page 21

“Soggy Gloves Cause Ring Deaths”

(N_Z Press Assn.— Copyright) NEW YORK, April 16.

Ab American boxinc promoter. Al Bolan, today branded sony boxing Cloves as the likeliest cause of the reeent professional ring deaths, tnited Press Interna-

tionai reported. "When Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson fight again, probably in June, 111 demand that the gloves be changed at the end of every five rounds," he said.

“Ironically, because the fatalities included two world champions, Benny Paret and Davey Moore, they stimulated unprecedented interest in the sport."

Bolan said eight-ounce gloves could become “potentially dangerous" if permitted to absorb hand-perspiration and corner-splashing for more than five rounds.

“It is doubly unfortunate that as the gloves become more dangerous, the fighters become more liable to serious injury because of fatigue," he said.

Although professional boxers sometimes are knocked out in an early round, he stressed, rarely do they suffer

an early-round fatality. “From my own observations, and from my discussions with boxers and trainers." he continued, “I am convinced . that generally, fatalities result from head-beat-ings suffered by tired boxers in later rounds—beatings from fists encased in soggy gloves.” Bolan said he did not believe that boxing will be outlawed in the United States because of the furore over fatalities.

"The American people of today never would permit the abolition of anything that contributed to public entertainment and general physical welfare, although spiced with some danger.”