BOXING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 68, 20 March 1915, Page 17

BOXING.

Looking up ray records of Jim Corbett's fighting career, I happened across the following gem of descriptive stuff, published by an American paper the morning after Jim beat the mighty John L. Sullivan, says a Sydney writer. The battle took place nearly 23 years ago:— "A 24ft ring. In the centre lies a man of vast bulk, fuH, a few seconds ago, of fire and energy, now a mere huddled, inert, inanimate mass. 'Seven—eight— nine—out!' yells Professor John Duffey, and an answering roar goes up from twice five thousand, throats. A young man strides rapidly to the ropes, his skin, 'neath which the muscles slip and slide like those of a wild stallion, gleaming white in the glare of the arc-lights, which accentuate the natural pallor of his face. He reaches over the upper rope, and his proffered hand, cased as yet in a blood-stained glove, is warmly clasped by a little old man with a grey beard and kindly grey eyes, who gazes upon bim with rapturous pride and delight. "Why don't they laugh now, dadT queried the youngster, with a ring of exultation in his tone. Laugh! The world was too staggered to laugh, for had not the 'wise guys' been tumbling over each other for weeks to lay four and five to one on John L. Sullivan, regarding Coibett's pretensions as a joke?" His defeat at the hands of Mike Gibbons has affected Jimmy Gabby—well known to Australian boxing enthusiasts —to such an extent that his health and spirit are broken. He has decided to Sake a long rest and will attempt to recuperate in the sunny south. Accompanied by bis trainer, he started immediately and did not believe he would make an attempt to re-enter the ring before the expiration of a year. Jimmy had been appearing at a theatre at Hammond in Indiana, and bis listless work attracted the attention of bis friends, who soon discovered that the boxer was not himself. Casbby was so confident of winning from Gibbons that his defeat was a severe shock to him. He plans to bsild up bis former rugged health and then ask Mike for a return match. Two English boxers who were in Sydney for some time up to a little while ago, fought in .England during January. Matt Wells gained a decision over Gus Platts after a stoutly contested battle, throughout which, according to the "London SpoTtscnan," Wells had it over his opponent for pace and cleverness, while his footwork was far superior. Joe Brooks suffered a severe beating at the hands of Llew Edwards, a Welshman. The report says:—"Before the bout commenced the price rose a couple of points, and 7 to 4 could have been easily bad when the struggle commenced. The natural advantages of Edwards were very pronounced, but Brooks faced his handicap with any amount of confidence. For half a dozen rounds he made quite a brave show, often getting close and scoring with both hands. So well did he go, in fact, that at this stage the odds had dropped to 0 to 4. Edwards all the while, however, was fighting fast and well, while what was more bis splendid condition and his undoubted stamina rendered abortive all the efforts of the other to take a lead. Slowly but surely Edwards forged ahead, and, never idle for one moment, he. maintained an attack which included shots of every description that gradually caused Brooks to slow down. Edwards never let up a second. He almost ignored defence, the little he indulged in being confined to ducking and slipping, and in this way he now and agar* ran up against a

random shot. His speed and his aggressive tactics, however, atoned for other shortcomings, and never backing away one instant he worried the man in front of him with clips until Brooks hardly knew where to get for safety. Towards the close the affair got rather onesided, and though Brooks was a trier to the finish, he was easily outpointed, and in the last two rounds apparently let down rather lightly. The match was decided at the National Sporting Club." James J. Coffey, the Irish giant, knocked out Arthur Pelkey, who was receertty in Sydney, in the second round of their battle at New York last week. "I can't shift my hands, I'm too tired |to go on," was what Hughie Mehegan said at the end of the fourteenth round of hies battle with Herb. McCoy at the Melbourne Stadium last Saturday night. It wa6 the old story of the triumph of youth, and it was youth, agilrty and confidence combined that worked the undoing of the champion. McCoy never rooked a loser, and was brimful of confidence Jrom beginning to end. That left of McCoy's waa Hughie's trouble. He never seemed to be able to block it, but always tried to ibore in close, where he hammered at McCoyi* ribs, and ripped home blows in the faoe. McCoy was smart on his feet, his pace making his opponent appear slow. When an opening presented itself he was scoring with his left, and back out of nunge before Mehegan had time to respond. When ' Mehegan stopped McCoy 'Was well ahead 'on points, and nothing short of a knockout could have retained, tbe championship for him.