California Proposition 20 was a 1914 California ballot initiative known as the prize fights initiative. It passed with 56 percent of the popular vote.[2]
The prize fight initiative addressed the question of "irreligious prize fights" (as per proponents) versus "moral boxing" (according to opponents).[3] It prohibited charging an admission fee for any fight lasting more than four rounds, and prohibited awarding any prize worth more than $25.[4] The wording on the ballot was "Initiative act amending penal code. Prohibits the engaging in or furthering in any prize fights or remunerative boxing exhibitions, training therefor, or betting thereon; the conducting, participating in or witnessing any boxing exhibition on Memorial Day or Sunday; authorizes regulated four-round amateur boxing exhibitions unless prohibited by ordinances [etc]."[5]
An Oakland sportswriter named Billy Fitz argued that the limitations imposed by the law, restricting fights (that had once gone on as many as 20 rounds) to four rounds would encourage a rush of poorly trained amateurs who would fight more brutally in order to win a shorter match (rather than previous endurance contests which he felt were conducted by well-prepared professional boxers).[6]
The 1914 law was repealed with the passage of 1924's California Proposition 7.
References
- ^ Allen, Arly; Mace, James Willard (2017). Jess Willard: Heavyweight Champion of the World (1915–1919). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-4766-2637-6.
- ^ Jones, Bill (2001). A History of the California Initiative Process. DIANE Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-7881-8250-1.
- ^ "We're Taking Way Too Much Initiative". Los Angeles Times. October 27, 2004. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Blow Aimed at California Boxing". The New York Times. April 10, 1913. p. 9. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Proposition 20". The Red Bluff News. October 23, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ Billy Fitz (December 13, 1914). "New State Law Will Fail to Attain Object". Oakland Tribune. p. 38. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
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