User talk:Ionu

Hi,

Are you related to Henry Woods? I'm a Yakima native and would love to hear more about Woods if you have anything to share. His early Yakima record on this site comes from my research. My e-mail is [email protected]. --Matt Tegen 11:51, 7 December 2007 (CST)

POV Edits

Hello. In an encyclopedia, such as this, the proper etiquette is to write in a neutral point of view. That includes, among other things, referring to people by their last names only. Otherwise, if you constantly use their first name--such as you have been doing in the Henry Woods page--it looks less like an objective encyclopedia and more like a Woods's fan's personal tribute Web site. Please make the appropriate edits. Thanks in advance. --Ric 09:47, 9 December 2007 (CST)

Recent Edits

Hello. First all, I changed the year (and his age) at the time he became Washington state's first professional lightweight champion. It was not in 1932, because pro boxing was still illegal in the state. Washington state legalized prize-fighting effective June 8, 1933. The state commission did not announce the first champions until that December. Woods was 19 then. Secondly, please re-visit your recent edits. Please note the time frame he fought in Chicago, and move that text up to the paragraph regarding his fighting days. Currently, you have put this text after talking about his retirement. Finally, please note that when referring to a decade, it is 1980s, not 1980's (the latter spelling refers to something belonging to the year 1980). Thanks. --Ric 19:23, 29 December 2007 (CST)

Hello, First all, Henry's family members including (Duke)his older brother who was alive and with Henry at the time he won the Washington Sate Title gave the information concerning Henry's age. So, I will research this further but even though the state commission did not announce the first champions someone told Henry he was Washington States first Light-Weight prize-fighting Champion in 1932. Eighteen or Nineteen still the best and still only a teenager. A history maker with poor representaion in his home town, they went from joyous to jealous. Thank you for your edits, that's what an Encyclopaedia is for I'm the family researcher adding valuable information not the grammar expert. The comma's, periods etc... I'm not sweating the small stuff it's the bigger picture of Henry's history be told that concerns me. Thanks again, and Happy New Year! Henry's IonU PS The cool thing about Henry is he was just a kid, and he beat the best! They came from all over, even as far as Canada. But from the young age of 12 through his teens and before he turned 20 Henry was unstoppable and had won the States "First", key word, "First" Light-Weight Boxing Champion Title. Yes!!! Thank you for helping us tell Cousin Henrys amazing HISTORIC TRUE story. May 13, 1932 Henry fought Albie Davies at Eagles Hall in Yakima for the Pacific Northwest Light Weight Title and won. That's the hometown history from the Yakima Hearld.

"Pro" Status

You are doing a great job! Matt and I are from the Seattle area and we both concentrate on Pacific Northwest boxing. He and I have researched countless local newspapers from the early 1900s. In case you do not know, the following may be some helpful info. I put it in some of the early Northwest boxers' pages or career records. It regards the sometimes confusing fuzzy line between "amateur" and pro bouts before 1933:

Until early 1933 prize-fighting--professional boxing--was illegal in Washington state. State law did permit "Sparring or fencing amongst members of private clubs for exercise only or for the enjoyment of their fraternal brothers." Thus, virtually all bouts in the state were usually held in the various American Legion posts, Eagles, Elks and other private athletic clubs for their "members." Anyone wishing to witness a match was required to obtain a membership card and levied an assessment for the seat. The boxers were paid "training expenses." The authorities generally turned a blind eye to these bouts. When pressed, the promoters termed these bouts "amateur." But most of these fights are generally included in these boxers' official fight records. Prizefighting was later legalized, effective June 8, 1933.

So, whatever Woods may have won in 1932 was not a "professional" title. (Those pre-1933 Pacific Northwest and Pacific Coast titles were sometimes termed "mythical" by local newspapers, being as pro boxing was illegal.) I have researched the papers of the day, and December 1933 was the VERY FIRST TIME that pro championship titles were declared in the state. (See the Dec. 11, 1933 Tacoma News Tribune for confirmation.) Please correct this error you put back into his bio. Thanks in advance. --Ric 11:28, 30 December 2007 (CST)

Thank you, I took my information concerning the 1932 title date from 2 sources. #1. Your listing on Henrys career page, between 1932, 5-13 and 1932, 4-07 you have "Pacific NorthWest Lightweight Title - Davies defending"? How can he be defending something that you later say no one had until 1933? My second source is from family documents.