BOXING AND WRESTLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 5

BOXING AND WRESTLING

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, —Since a correspondent has had much to say on the question of the relation betwee'n Christianity, spiritual welfare, and the sports of boxing and wrestling, I may be permitted _to point out that during the ages of faith, the times when religion was more widespread and there was a comparative lack of unbelief, the degrading sports then prevalent leave the modern pugilistic encounters pale to the point of insipidity. In 1825 at Eton College the 14-year-old son of the Earl of Shaftesbury fought 60 rounds with an older and heavier boy. The writer records: "A Stockport paper of the year 1825 describes an appalling encounter between two women, and remarks that it is a ' freauent spectacle' in that district. . . . A great prize fight overshadowed all political and social events for months. There was one in 1824 to which the London presg gave more space, on its front page, than to any other event of the year. Langan and Smith met. . . . No gloves were worn in 1824, and there were almost no rules. The men fought 75 rounds in two and a-half hours with naked fists. The Irishman, Langan, who lost, was put to bed with 50 leeches on him! —was dissatisfied, and a few weeks later fought 76 rounds." I notice that in the Eton School fight, despite liberal doses of brandy between rounds, one of the boys was killed! One who takes the attitude of your correspondent "Israel" should peruse reliable history.—l am, etc.. September 6, E. W. F.