Show BOXING HOLDS ITS POSiTION Ring Game Was Vas One of the Leading Sports During I Season of 1917 I E YORK YORI Jan 11 That 11 That boxing N V held Its position as one of the leading sports from the standpoint standpoint standpoint stand stand- point of attractiveness to the spectator during 1917 Hili is amply demonstrated b by the ring records of the past year Neither promoters nor pugilists are aie inclined In Inclined Inclined In- In to play the game came ame lInes unless there Is reasonable remuneration Involved and the fact that some seventy se of the leading lending lend lead Ild ing love glove knights participated in close cloie to 1100 bouts during the twelve months Just ended Indicates that the box office receipts were up to the usual standard Such statistics as are available show that a large majority of or the tho 1100 bouts bouls held wore were staged In eastern cities i where the contests arc limited to en ena engagements engagements en- en a ranging from six to twelve rounds unless cut short by a knockout As a result a n large largo percentage of the bouts t terminated d In draws drawl or no no-de- de affairs but allowing for this handicap In hl teaching reaching a decisive o finish the lie percentage o of knockouts was wis a trifle better than 7 j per cent Lightweight Lightweight Light Light- wel weight ht champion Benn Benny Leonard leads In this respect his record showing Ing the tho surprisingly I high standard of winning almost two thirds of or his bouts louts b by knockout knockouts Some Idea of what this GG CG 66 3 3 2 3 per percent percent percent cent efficiency means can be pained from a n comparison of or this record with that of or other American title holders for fOI forthe forthe the year car just clo closed ed Pete Herman the bantam champion won about Z 3 per pel percent cent of his bouts b by tho the k o. o route Johnny Johnn I holder of the feather feather- featherweight weight title did better winning 10 to per por cent of or hi his ring ling encounters b by knockouts Ted Lewis the welterweight champion won non 20 O per cent of or his Fla battles bat bat- battles tIeR in hr a like ee manner Tho The middleweight middleweight middle middle- weight title holder Mike ODowd Just crossed the 16 per cent mark while Jess less Willard Villard custodian of the thc hewel heavyweight heavy heavy- wel weight ht crown did not Indulge himself to the extent of defending his title and so drew a a. blank |