BOXING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 186, 11 September 1914, Page 2

BOXING.

NOTES FROM ABROAD. One of the most interesting items of boxing news brought by the last mail from the United States is that law legalising twenty-rounds boxing bouts in Louisiana has been passed. ' This means that New Orleans should come back into her own in the boxing world. Time was when the Crescent City was a veritable pugilistic Mecca, and' most of the. big fights which had an important bearing upon championship affairs all over the world were decided there. It was in New Orleans that Nonpareil Dempsey, the idol of the pugilistic world, lost his title to Fitzsimmons; that John L. Sullivan, the champion of all champions, succumbed to Jim Corbett; that Jack McAuliffe, the only retired chaifapion in the world, cinched his claim to the title in his last fight by whipping Billy Meyer, the Streator Cyclone; that" George -Dixon, "Lil Chocolate,'' rounded out a score of -brilliant victories by whipping Jack Skelly, who was without a peer as a fighter in the amateur realm; that Andy-Bowen and Jack Burke fought the longest glove battle on record; that Kid Lavigne made his first bid for the then void light-weight title by beating Andy

dent of the Ladies ' Hockey Association. Bowen so badly that he subsequently died.

One might go on to interminable lengths citing the important episodes in the pugilistic history of New Orleans. The clubs were well conducted, well patronised, and profitable, and it is only to be hoped now that the condition of things will be maintained in such a manner under the new administration as to reflect the same credit upon those who are responsible for the future. 1 SIMPSON BEATS ELLI&. Frank Ellis, Wellington's clever feather-weight, lost his match with Charley Simpson, the Victorian "f£dder" champion, held in Melbourne the other day, on points. The Sydney "Referee's" Melbourne correspondent says:— '' Taking it easy to begin with, Simpson allowed the stocky little New Zealander to come .to him, which-Ellis did very willingly, ramming in a few lefts to the face, which, hoWever, did little harm. , Simpson crouched low, relying mainly on swings to the body, but his blows in the opening stages were badly timed, and time and again Ellis slipped his rushes beautifully. "Twice the Victorian rushed Ellis to the boards, but it was only for a second or two, for Ellis rose with a smile and resumed hostilities. Right through neither man boxed up to his best form, for Simpson lacked his usual precision, missing badly time after time. Ellis, after rattling up a points lead in the early half, gradually, lost it through stand-off and clinching tactics. "The surprise of .the bout occurred in the nineteenth session, at which stage Simpson was bleeding from cuts over both eyes, while Ellis had also one eye put out of action. Simpson wai boring his way in on top of his opponent;, when Ellis scored with a pretty left uppercut, which dropped Simpson to the boards a surprised and rattled boy. Simpson's grit stood to him, and he rose quickly, attacking the New' Zealander hotly to the finish. , .. . "When Referee Newhouse declared for Simpson, his verdict met with a mixed reception, which was unmerited, for, although Ellis was by far the cleverer lad, his work la,cked devil. Simpson always tried to make a fight of it. Ellis was too anxious to ' claim' the Victorian at close quarters." ' H ANN AN. WINS.' - "Billy" Hannan, the West Haitian d (N.S.W.) lightweight, who is well and favourably, known in New Zealand, scored a notable victory in Sydney last week, when hie defeated Tierney, run-rier-up to Fred. Kay in the lightweight [ division of the, recent £6OO tourney at Newtown Qlympia. The contest" is thus described by the Sydney "Sun":— " Pluck and endurance met with their reward at the Newtown Olympia last

night, when Billy Hannan, of Maitland, who had barely enough strength left to keep his footing, clean knocked-out his exhausted opponent, Arthur Tierney, of Newtown, early in the thirteenth round. The contest opened very tamely.; Tierney was quicker to seize an opening, and a lot of good work came from his straight left, and also from his drives to the body. He forced the fighting for the first few rounds, but his impetuosity led him into danger at times, and in tfie third session Hannan profited by badly rattling him about the jaw. Tierney held, command throughout the fourth and fifth, but in tiie pext round Hannlan offered more opposition, and some fierce rallies resulted. In the seventh term Tierney swung a Sard right uppercut;to the chin, and Hannan, who was floored,, rose considerably ; shaken, and when Tierney repeated the punch the country boxer went down again for nine seconds r In the eleventh, round Hannan dropped s. from sheer exhaustion, and in the succeeding term both boxers tottered wearily about, being too tired even to keep their arms moving. Hannan wasdaz«d enough to mistake Referee Wally; Weekes for his opponent, and a litilolater he was groping round the ring for his corner. Hannan: used a left andjrightto Tierney's jaw. Tierney fell like,; a* log, and his seconds carried him awayWeights: Tierney, 9st. 131b.; Hannan,. 9st. 10*lb." .

A TOUGH: PEOPOSITION. According to! the following from thepen of Mr Tom Andrews, Milwaukee's-well-known boxing critic, there is another strong claimant in America for recognition as a top-plane middleweight. Mr • Andrews says:—" For" a boxer who was considered nothing bufc ,a dub a year or two : ago> George Knock-out' Brown, of Chicago, has♦ertainlyf shown'wonderful ini|>roveme;nt the past few' months. ' When Brown. fought in Milwaukee • against • Jimmy Clabby he waa made ,to look like therankest novice, and the bout as a resultwas very punk. It seems that the Chicago Greek did not lose heart, but kept oh going arid also improving with each contest until now he is no longer considered a dub, but a real tough proposition for any of the middle-weijjhts-to tackle. His battle .with Jack Dillon at Terre. Haute, InCd., last weejc . showed that he has a lot of in fact, it s takes considerable clafss f(*r any middle-weights: to -go 10 grounds with Jack Dillon. The papers &ave it a draw, while some of them said Dillon, had a shade, and others that Brown had a shade. M thpugh .it was a very even contest, and tire indications are that these boys will have to travel the marathon route in order to reaeh a decision. Brown may -not, (be the - cleverest of the bunch of middleweights, but he is certainly as tough and hard to beat as any of the 15S pounders." ,