Replies to Sir Hall Caine
Replies to Sir Hall Caine is an article published in the Daily Express on 4 july 1927.
Replies to Sir Hall Caine
CONAN DOYLE ON THE GREAT FIGHT.
NO BRUTALITY.
FINE EXHIBITION OF COURAGE.
SIR HALL CAINE'S criticism of the Walker-Milligan fight, published in Saturday's "Daily Express," has aroused keen resentment among those interested in boxing.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who is a recognised authority on the history of the Ring, said to a "Daily Express representative:—
"I was present at the fight at Olympia, and saw Milligan beaten by Walker. It was the first fight I had been for years, for, although I am fond of boxing, and was once a pretty useful heavy-weight. I have had little time for sport in recent years.
"I consider the Milligan fight was well refereed, and if Mr. Eugene Corri had stopped the contest, earlier there would have been a serious injustice to Milligan and his supporters, for I have more than once seen a fight pulled off by a man who was in worse case than Milligan was in the ninth round.
"I detected no brutality whatever, but I saw one of the finest exhibitions of courage and perseverance I have ever witnessed and one which might well be an example to every man who had the opportunity of seeing it.
"VIRILE QUALITIES."
"I think that when war has been brought to an end those rougher sports may also be discontinued, but until that day — which is I think, far off — we are bound to encourage manly and virile qualities of every kind among our population.
"I rejoice to think that boxing is taken up by most of our public schools and in the Army, and I believe there are few religious efforts dealing with the youth of our cities which do not include a gymnasium and a boxing instructor.
"That a weaker man should be beaten by a stronger man would indeed be intolerable, but when, we have two men of equal weight and equal experience, either of whom can surrender of his own free will, I see no reason why we should raise any cry of brutality.
"I think that those who were present and saw the fight will nearly all agree with me, but Mr. Swaffer's dramatic account naturally laid stress upon the more poignant incidents, and was calculated to make an undue impression on a sensitive mind."
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