19.11.2007, 18:43
Fresno Bee
Fresno, California
28 April 1944
SAN FRANCISCO. April 28—Round ring report! Being prejudiced, partial and biased in favor of the advantages of a circular ring for boxing over the traditional square "ring." Your reporter is a dead duck in the matter of reviewing the first showing of a round battle pit here the other night …We are in the predicament of a sailor shipwrecked on a raft—water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink …
The fact the wrestlers stole a march on boxing promoters and introduced the first circular ring may alter the case slightly in that the two professions are greatly different in footwork and other technique. The wrestlers could stage their performances knee deep in mud, as has been done and named Hindu style, or within a decagon, which is a 10 angled figure, and they would continue to produce their usual show, which pleases many patrons …
MEANT FOR BOXING
However, when we suggested the idea of a circular ring, we had boxing in mind, and a great many others now also are awaiting the mitt tossing program involving amateurs which will be put on in a round ring in May by the Marinship Athletic Club. Charley Hunter directing…
The amateur organization is causing to be constructed a circular ring which will be affixed to a round platform … It may come up as a three post affair, affording considerably more view to spectators than either the four poster or one with six posts, which has been considered …
After the wrestlers performed in their circular ring, supported by four posts, the general opinion was the device produced faster bouts by the very nature of its shape … Abe Kashey, a wrestler, said: “It forces you to keep hustling every minute. There are no corners to loaf in.”
Chief Inspector Don Shields of the state athletic commission said he thought that "for such a newfangled idea, the reaction was very favorable. The wrestlers who used it agreed it made them work faster .A number of improvements can be made. The ring certainly stood up under a severe test of heavy men banging into it. I would like to see it tried out for boxing.”
TRIAL IN BOXING
State athletic commission member Ed Pencevich said the circular ring inaugural was "very interesting. This type of ring promises to make contests much faster than before. I am looking forward to seeing boxing matches held in it." Oldest boxing publicist in California, in point of service, Leon Meyer, expressed the opinion the round ring held out “many interesting possibilities. All of the people I talked to want to see how it will work in boxing.” In conclusion we must print the comment of veteran Tim McGrath, who trained Sailor Tom Sharkcy in the 1890s: Sharkey never would have caught up with Jim Corbett in a round ring. (Grand old Sailor Tom was a slowfoot: Corbett possibly the fleetest in heavyweight ring history.)
Fresno, California
28 April 1944
SAN FRANCISCO. April 28—Round ring report! Being prejudiced, partial and biased in favor of the advantages of a circular ring for boxing over the traditional square "ring." Your reporter is a dead duck in the matter of reviewing the first showing of a round battle pit here the other night …We are in the predicament of a sailor shipwrecked on a raft—water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink …
The fact the wrestlers stole a march on boxing promoters and introduced the first circular ring may alter the case slightly in that the two professions are greatly different in footwork and other technique. The wrestlers could stage their performances knee deep in mud, as has been done and named Hindu style, or within a decagon, which is a 10 angled figure, and they would continue to produce their usual show, which pleases many patrons …
MEANT FOR BOXING
However, when we suggested the idea of a circular ring, we had boxing in mind, and a great many others now also are awaiting the mitt tossing program involving amateurs which will be put on in a round ring in May by the Marinship Athletic Club. Charley Hunter directing…
The amateur organization is causing to be constructed a circular ring which will be affixed to a round platform … It may come up as a three post affair, affording considerably more view to spectators than either the four poster or one with six posts, which has been considered …
After the wrestlers performed in their circular ring, supported by four posts, the general opinion was the device produced faster bouts by the very nature of its shape … Abe Kashey, a wrestler, said: “It forces you to keep hustling every minute. There are no corners to loaf in.”
Chief Inspector Don Shields of the state athletic commission said he thought that "for such a newfangled idea, the reaction was very favorable. The wrestlers who used it agreed it made them work faster .A number of improvements can be made. The ring certainly stood up under a severe test of heavy men banging into it. I would like to see it tried out for boxing.”
TRIAL IN BOXING
State athletic commission member Ed Pencevich said the circular ring inaugural was "very interesting. This type of ring promises to make contests much faster than before. I am looking forward to seeing boxing matches held in it." Oldest boxing publicist in California, in point of service, Leon Meyer, expressed the opinion the round ring held out “many interesting possibilities. All of the people I talked to want to see how it will work in boxing.” In conclusion we must print the comment of veteran Tim McGrath, who trained Sailor Tom Sharkcy in the 1890s: Sharkey never would have caught up with Jim Corbett in a round ring. (Grand old Sailor Tom was a slowfoot: Corbett possibly the fleetest in heavyweight ring history.)