“What would you do ?” used to figure on the cover of a boys’ comic called “Boys’ World”. This was a publication, obviously, aimed at boys and first appeared on January 26th 1963. There were 89 issues before the comic was merged with Eagle in 1964. The last issue of “Boys’ World” came out on October 3rd 1964.
I used to buy “Boys’ World”, and this was mainly for the front cover which always featured a kind of puzzle. It was called “What would you do ?” and was based on somebody being in what Ned Flanders would call “A dilly of a pickle”. Here’s the situation:
The yellow box sets the scene, and the task is for you to solve the situation. Perhaps you might like to write your idea in the “Comments” section.
Here’s the yellow box enlarged:
So…… a question about the protocols of boxing.
I just hope that the answer, published inside the comic in 1963, is the same as it would be today, in a much more safety conscious era. That’s not a hint, by the way. I haven’t looked yet!
John Knifton 
I know nothing about the protocols of boxing, but how about catching the towel and tossing it back?
You’ll have to wait until the answer is revealed, Derrick, but essentially, that’s a pretty good guess!
🙂
I don’t know the rules, but as ref, I would ask the boxer if he feels well enough to continue.
That’s a very good suggestion, and a very kind one too.
But I take it, it’s not the answer.
No, sorry, I’m afraid it isn’t.
Boxing Rules 101: ‘Throwing in the towel’ doesn’t end a fight
In such a situation the Referee makes a judgement. Personally I would end the fight to avoid any subsequent litigation.
This is a tough one, there really is no right or wrong answer.
Obviously you’re correct about Rule 101, but especially in the USA, would you risk litigation by stopping the fight and robbing the relatively uninjured boxer of his chance to be the world champion?
If you remember him back in the sixties, Henry Cooper would have had no career if they’d stopped fights because of eye injuries. “Glass eyebrows” my Dad always used to say!
A very difficult dilemma indeed.
As the ref I am the only one who can
stop the fight. So in these circumstances I would stop the clock and go and ask the trainer why he wants to stop. I should take into account the trainers reasons but I know that so much money is wagered that I might be stopping a fight that has been rigged. In the end, the ref should decide.
You are half right. It is the referee who ultimately makes the decision but you will need to forecast his decision correctly to win tonight’s star prize.
I would ask the trainer how the heck is he able to have the towel so white, if it’s the soap, the water machine or else and keep talking while the situation develops and solves by itself…
Now, seriously speaking. I would end the fight and ask Harry if he wants to go on.
That towel is certainly wonderfully white, isn’t it? Actually the secret is mine. It’s not the soap, the water machine or anything else. It’s a more modern method than any of those. It’s called Photoshop and it really will get all your dingy towels a brilliant white.
Sorry to say that your solution is very humane, but not correct. The referee will never ask the boxer if he feels OK, because it may be the boxer’s one and only chance to become the champion, so he will always say that he is OK, even when he is not. Clearly, in a sport like boxing, that could have serious, if not fatal, consequences.
I am completely out of my depth here given that my grasp of the Queensbury Rules is negligible. I would say that the decision lies with the boxer, but the question is whether is is competent to make that decision. Recent research (not relevant in this case) shows that even a mild concussion affects one’s ability to make decisions. Were I the ref I would err towards caution and end the fight.
What you have said about the boxer’s perception is 100% correct. Your ideas about the referee are not correct in the 1963 comic, but are probably what would happen today.
I’m afraid I don’t know anything about boxing. Id guess the ref is the one who makes the decision but isn’t there now a panel of judges? Would it go to them to decide based an a majority rule?
This is back in 1963, and the rule then was that it was down to the referee. So, you’re right! But…….what will the referee decide?
The show must go on. In 1963 it would be a fight to the death so he’s say “man up” and get on with it. The good old days!
They certainly were, as Henry Cooper would testify!
Thank you for sharing!!.. I suspect the official let the fight continue, though would the fighter wish to continue, maybe still lose the fight and risk permanent injury to prevent him from fighting again and/or live a normal life…
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and life is all that you wish for it to be!.. 🙂
Thank you, those are very kind thoughts.
You are half right about the boxing. The referee did allow the fight to continue, but the reasons and the outcome were slightly different from yours.
well this is embarrassing, I assumed the ref has to stop the fight due to the white towel. I would have but I have to say worse injuries have occurred in major fights that went the distance.
Sorry, Lloyd, but the referee does not have to obey the white towel. You are 100% right, however, that many much worse injuries have occurred in major fights, but I think that this particular puzzle is more aimed at boys’ boxing because of the readership of the comic.