BOXING

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 17

BOXING

THE RULES OF THE GAME

J. J. CORBETT’S SUGGESTIONS.

Jim Corbett’s new boxing rules have been digested by the fistio public of America, but as yet we have failed to find any favourable, comment in Jim’s behalf (writes the American correspondent of the ‘.‘Sporting Globe”). . Corbett dedicated his new rules to the. late Theodore Roosevelt-, with the statement that they would standardise the game. Corbett is correct in that statement, but his standardisation methods entailed so many drastic changes from the accepted Marquis of Queensberry code that they were dropped with the first announcement.

Corbett is a keen critic of boxing, and as an ex-heavy weight, champion ho' writes with authority. Still. Corbett made a big and serious mistake in his attempt to set new weight limits _ for tlie various boxing classes. American critics with one accord agreed that the changes were impossible. ■‘l have designated the weights and classes,” says Corbett,. “because after years of study I ani convinced that these are eminently fair and just all round, and also that they are very near the eight natural weight divisions of the present day.” The names and weights of the eight different classes as listed by Corbett, which were rejected, ■ follow: Flyweight, from 100 to 110 pounds. Bantamweight, from 110 to 120 pounds. Featherweight, from 120 to 130 pounds. Lightweight, from 130 to 140 pounds. ' Welterweight, from 140 to 100 pounds. Middleweight, from 150 to 160 pounds. Eight heavyweight, from 160 to 1(5 pounds. Heavyweight, from 175 pounds up. While it may be Corbett’s experience tlna.fi a latitude of ten pounds a division may best serve the interests of boxing, still it is patent that it gives too much leeway in a division itself to make for an even match. This is especially true among the smaller men, who haggle over a pound, or even a half pound of flesh to-day. Above the lightweight class it' may not make much material difference, while below it the hue and cry which would follow the acceptance of Corbett’s rules w’ould quickly drown the voice of the Corbett champions. Corbett in a sense clears up some debated points, -especially those of award in a decision bout which are of interest to boxing followers, especially in a country like Australia, where decision matches”, are the regular thing. The basis on which decisions are given are invariably confusion to tho public. However, if the boxing fans in general follow the rulings of Corbett, they can reach a verdict which is usually in keeping with the one rendered by the referee and the fistic critic. Savs Corbett: "Should the contest last through tho stipulated number of rounds, tho referee shall award tho decision to tho contestant who has scored the greatest number of elf active hits with all the knuckles of .his closed iiands. All other things being equal, consideration shall he given the boxer who has displayed the best style, both in attack and defence, or to. the man wiio has done the most leading” An extraordinary feature of this season’s cricket competition is the numher of times 114 runs have been scored by a senior-grade team. . Hutt, the leading team, scored 114 twice —against Old Bovs and Tboriidon. Old Boys also scored 114 twice —against Thorndon and Petono. Pctone scored 114 against Hutt, and Wellington scored' 114. for five wickets in their second innings against Petone.