Committee to Decide Boxing Dispute

A controversy over intramural boxing arose yesterday afternoon in a meeting between House athletic secretaries and Robert B. Watson '37, director of Harvard Athletics.

Watson said yesterday that although "no decision has been made yet, I have serious reservations about intramural boxing. I think it is a dreadful display of lack of good sportsmanship."

Watson cited several reasons for his position. He said that in the past there had been a boxing class, but that this year there were insufficient funds to hire an instructor. Watson expressed fear that without the instruction, several novice contestants would be at a serious disadvantage in their matches.

Watson also said that he had received a letter from Dr. Raymond Gibbs vehemently discouraging the continuation of intramural boxing. Dr. Gibbs, one of the three doctors at the Dillon Field House, witnessed the tournament last year and condemned it in his letter as "disgraceful."

Additional opposition to intramural boxing, Watson said, arose over the hostile "kill-em" reaction of the spectators.

Al Bozer, Adams House athletic secretary, disputed Watson's rationale yesterday and indicated that at a meeting of the House athletic secretaries three weeks ago, intramural boxing was supported by a vote of 8-3.

Bozer also stated that the Intramural House Athletic Committee voted to drop the awarding of participation points to every boxer in order to discourage inexperienced contestants from entering the tournament solely to compile Straus Cup points.

For safety measures, Bozer said that contestants are required to wear head gear, 12 oz. gloves and a cup athletic supporter. In addition, he stressed that each match was officiated by an Amateur Athletic Union referee, and that a doctor was present at ringside.

"Boxing is practically the oldest sport; it was played in the Greek Olympics," Bozer said. "There are fewer injuries in boxing than in intramural tackle football. It has been at Harvard for over 30 years."

Watson said that he would present both cases in the dispute to the Medical Department and to the Standing Committee on Athletics and that the final decision would not come until after spring vacation.