Advertisement

None

No Headline

At every winter meeting of the Athletic Association more or less comment is made on the fact that in sparring matches in which there are three contestants the winner of the first bout is called upon to face the third, and consequently fresh, man at the same meeting. This course is doubtless pursued by the officers of the association in order to gratify the general desire to see the finish of the match at once. But at the same time it must be apparent to all observers that it is not fair treatment of the winner of the first bout. Not one sparer in a hundred possesses the requisite endurance to do himself justice in a second match after he has just boxed three hotly contested rounds with an opponent of equal merit with himself. A notable instance of a similar nature occurred at a winter meeting two years ago, at which the winner of the first bout, one of the best boxers that Harvard has ever produced, being entered also to wrestle, and somewhat exhausted, was incapable of competing again on the same afternoon. The finish of the match was therefore postponed by the referee, a decision which gave general satisfaction to the spectators and which resulted at the next meeting in a much better exhibition of sparring than would otherwise have been seen. We hope that the authorities of the Athletic Association will reflect upon this matter, and should they decide to adopt our suggestion we can assure them that they will be warmly supported in their decision by the general opinion of the college and by all lovers of fair play. Should it on any account not be desirable to have the matches finished at the meetings attended by the fair sex, they might be put off until the special night meeting at which there are usually but few ladies present.

Advertisement
Advertisement