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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review 1912

A Plea for Chivalry in the Ring

A Plea for Chivalry in the Ring.

One reads but recently of a professional boxing match in Australia between the New Zealander Bill Rudd and an American, whose name I have for the moment forgotten In this encounter, however, it is significant that a professional and a New Zealander should set the example in a matter which is popularly) supposed to be confined to the amateur ring. The circumstances were as follow: Rudd, who led from the start, Forced his opponent into a corner, and proceeded to "paste him." as the saying is, for all he was worth. Seeing, however, that his man was quite done for the time being, Rudd stepped back in an admirably chivalrous manner and allowed his opponent to get away amidst great applause. His generosity was not unrewarded, for he won easily.

One remembers being taught the rudiments of "the noble art" in one's callow youth at Wellington College. One of the fundamental maxims imbibed there (it was almost an unwritten law), was "never to take an undue advantage of an opponent." No doubt of course the same thing is taught in other schools, and one would think the point hardly needed elaborating further were it not that there are many similar excellent maxims learnt at school that we are in danger of forgetting on plunging into the hurly-burly of life.

In my humble opinion this maxim seems to marl; all the difference between a boxing contest and a prize tight. In the former it does not matter so much who was the winner 50 long as the fight was waged well and valiantly on each side. In the latter case, however, it is a question of a man's livelihood, and that of course is a different matter, being purely a commercial transaction, and it is a plain matter of business to put the other man "out" as soon as possible.

Hence it is, again in my humble opinion, something that should strike us with double force when we have such an excellent example set us by a professional boxer. Such men deserve to win and win not only the purse, but laurels as well.

It is not intended, of course, that any particular application should be made to the Victoria College Boxing Club, but occasionally one sees, perhaps in that most uncertain class, "the novices," a case where a competitor is plainly "streets ahead" page 57 of his opponent, and yet persists in hammering away as if his life depended on it.

As the University Boxing Club seems to be in a flourishing condition, and bids fair to continue so, it is only right that this matter of chivalrous conduct towards an opponent should be brought prominently to the fore, and made into one of the traditions of Victoria College. It is a worthy tradition, and one to be upheld in these days of strife and competition, and in no way can it be displayed so admirably as in the boxing ring.—1 am, etc.,

Minimus.