No Shirt, No Fight

Decorous dinner-jacketed British fight fans and their evening-gowned ladies assembled last week at the London Stadium Club to witness a charity boxing tournament. Present at the ringside were:

In This Corner: Slender, snowy bearded George Bernard Shaw, vegetarian friend of James Joseph Tunney.

In That Corner: Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, Prince of Wales, sportsman, accomplished knitter (TIME, Nov. 25).

Announced to appear in a four round exhibition bout was gigantic Primo Carnera, seven-foot Italian fisticuffer (TIME, Oct. 28).

First Interlude:

In a downstairs dressing room Boxer Carnera flexed his bulging muscles and glowered while an embarrassed manager explained the longstanding British rule that all boxers at amateur bouts must be clothed above the waist.

"Per Bacco!" swore Boxer Carnera, "I have never fought in an undershirt and I never will."

"But the Prince! The Prince sends word that he is particularly anxious that you appear properly clothed. There are a great many prominent society women in the audience."

"Bah for the ladies! But if the Prince wants it, all right with me. Here you--" He turned to a second, "Get me an undershirt. Try and get one that will fit."

Second interlude:

While amateur boxers jabbed and danced at each other in preliminary bouts, watchers saw a member of the Wales entourage whisper to Playwright Shaw, saw him shake his head. More whispering. The Shavian beard waggled in violent negation. A rumor spread: "Shaw has refused to meet the Prince!" Dinner-jacketed ringsiders were furious. Boos and whistles echoed from the cheaper seats.

Public attention was diverted by the appearance of Boxer Carnera in the ring, his huge Venetian tummy modestly covered by a straining, skintight singlet purchased at a nearby haberdashery.

"I did not refuse to be presented to His Royal Highness," said Mr. Shaw after the bout. "I was asked to present the prizes to the boxers in his stead, but it would hardly have been correct for me to do so, since he was present."

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