CANDID CRITIC

Evening Star, Issue 22275, 28 February 1936, Page 5

CANDID CRITIC

LO’JSKRAH OH BRITISH EfIXIHG DOUBTFUL DECISION FOR WELSHMAN Supporters of British _ boxing, ‘‘ ngat or wrong,” delighted vvlitu the American, rommy Loughran, cun(jueror of Maurice Strickland, the New Zealander, in recent months, was outpointed by Tommy Farr, of Wales, at the Albert Hall recently (states L. F. M'Jlraith, ,London representative of the Sydney ‘ Referee ’). Loughran had recently given some candid criticism of the" British ring, but the majority of the critics were fair-minded enough to admit that the decision treated Loughran very unfairly. Most of them agreed, too, with the American’s very frankly-expressed views. .There was a prolonged outburst of booing at the decision of the referee, who seemed to think Farr’s crude, vigorous onslaughts better than the polished boxing of the American. The day after the fight, Loughran’s manager, Joe Smith, protested to the British Boxing Board of Control against the referee’s decision, and stated later that he understood the board would consider his protest shortly. Loughran said to reporters, “I am no squealer, but I do think I won that fight.” As he was giving away about 10 years to his opponent, Loughran had to 'retreat before Farr’s fierce rallies now and again, but even in retreat he seized every opportunity to score. The American showed to advantage when rushed to the ropes. He would calmly take an avalanche of wild swings and emerge master of the situation. All the same Farr deserved credit for his sturdy fighting, which lent the contest a good deal of interest. Loughran had created a sensation two days before the fight when, at a luncheon he gave to Loudon sports writers, he declared he had never seen a good fight in this country. He pointed out that British boxers were allowed to hit “on the break,” which resulted in boxers remaining in a clinch far longer than they should, each trying to beat the other to the punch on the way out. He thought the American rule of the clean break was far better.

Loughran condemned the heavyweight novice competitions held in this country, stating that inexperienced, .unburdened young fighters were expected to provide sensational bouts to please the crowd. As a result, many promising boxers were punch-drunk am", ruined before they got very far in the game.