REFEREE'S BAD ERROR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 192, 18 September 1914, Page 5

REFEREE'S BAD ERROR.

[ JOE JEANNETTE IS UNLUCKY. I A bad "break" by an American referee is thus recorded in a New York paper of recent date:—'' Without any precedent to guide him or cause to justify his action, Willie Joh, the referee of the Stadium Athletic Club in New York, allowed the Jim Johnson fight to proceed after the -latter had committed a foul, which was so palpable and intentional that every spectator in the building manifested his disapproval by hissing the offender. The trouble happened in "the first round, when he started at once to lead, instead of going on the defensive, and he hammered away at his opponent with both hands. Driving him over in the corner, Johnson swung a left to Jeannette ? s stomach. The latter fell to the floor, and remained there for the, count. The knockout came so suddenly that the crowd did not realise it at first, but in a moment everything was in an uproar. Johnson stood as if waiting for Jeanrise, but was called back to his corner by his seconds, while Jeannette -was carried to his corner. "Jeannette soon recovered, however, and was anxious to resume. The announcement that he would be allowed to go on came as a stunning surprise. Boxing followers at the ringside found no precedent for such an action. The only statement Joh would make was, 'I didn't "see the blow.' "Jeannette and his backers claimed that the blow which knocked him out was a foul—below the belt—but Referee Joh said he did not see the blow. Under those circumstances there appeared to be only two things to do, either declare Johnson a winner on a knockout or disqualify Johnson for hitting a f blow. But Joh found a third way of getting out of the difficulty, however, a w;ay which will probably force him to do some explaining in the future, and which naturally caused considerable criticism, by ruling that Jeannette could go on with the bout after three minutes to recuperate. Joh refused to rule either that the blow was foul or fair. '' Those who expected Jeannette to return to the ring and beat his overweight opponent were.mwjh surprised. Johnson fought Jeannette to a standstill in the remaining nine rounds, and the best that Jeannette could even with the foul or fair knockout in the first round crossed off the book, was a draw."