TARLETON IMPRESSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 5 (Supplement)

TARLETON IMPRESSES.

Critics and Crowd Do Not Agree

With Referee

''What a fortune Tarlcton would have made in the palmy days of Grime,

Spargo, Fox and others," remarked an

enthusiast at the Melbourne Stadium 011 September 1(5. The speaker was quite right. But ho might have added that it is doubtful if any one of the three named would have been able to beat him, states the "Sporting Globe" critic. It is doubtful if a more complete boxer lias appeared in the Melbourne Stadium. Certainly none more elegant, lie is not of the rugged, aggressive type that wears an opponent into submission, nor is lie a k.o. expert. But he has grace of movement, precision of placing, and a superb all-round defence that leaves him in position to profit by the errors into which he forces others by his anticipation.

Weighing 0.0, he was Hlb heavier than Australian feather-weight champion Llew Edwards. And lie displayed superiority suflicient to suggest "that the difference was JJ, stone. Vet the verdict went to Edwards.

Throughout Tarlcton had Edwards

bewildered as to what he was likely to do, or a* to what Edwards should do

to endeavour to check him. It was a cat and mouse act all the time —save that the mouse did not try to run away, not even after an eyebrow was split in the fourth round.

Moving warily before that. Edwards

appeared to consider that ho might have a chance by going for his tormentor. That suited Tarleton even better than the other way. lie is always near enough to his man to give tho impression that 110 can be hit.

Not half! For beyond movement which goes with a punch is a defence that any boxer might envy. And the result was that head-weaving, bodyswaying or arm-checking left Edwards

almost invariably incapable of landing a proper punch. Of course, ho can claim, too. Nobody better. »nd that helped in the discomfiture of the Australian.

It is 110 discredit to Edwards that he proved so incapable. It is all a question of the standard of Australian boxing. Kd wards lias proved the cleverest of his class for some time, and has not had (lie experience of meeting men such as Tarleton has fou«7it to enable him to advance. Had he had that 110 would bo even better than 110 is to-day, for nobody could have progressed more than he.

While Tarleton's skill compels admiration, there arc one or two elements in his work that he will do well to eliminate in Australia. Hitting in the breakaway is not only distasteful, but illegal. And ho is too fine a craftsman to reflect 011 an opponent's deficiencies by resorting to a grin that indicates disdain. Perhaps in harder schools such an adjunct may be necessary, but here ho will find a fairly reasonable conception of what is a fair thing. There is one gesture for which he must bo given credit. Before the doctor and attendants had finished attending to Kdwards' eye in tho fourth spell, the bell rang. Tarleton sprang into action and was almost at the opposition corner before Edwards could leave his seat.

Some of tho crowd resented his eagerness to get to a wounded opponent. He was quite within his rights. Tll subsequent rounds he waited in mid-ring until Kdwards was free to leave his corner without undue bustle.

By and large Tarleton is as much in a elasy by himself as Stribling was last vera'.

Bcfcree Bill Lang caused an even greater sensation than in any of his own thrilling tights by declaring for Llew Edwards against Xcl Tarleton. The great majority of onlookers stood dumbfounded for a few moments then a roar of dissent was forthcoming from all sections.

Invited to explain the reasons for his decision, Lang said: —

"There was very little in it. Tarleton was in front early, but Edwards made tip points later. Tarleton was penalised in some rounds for his tactics. "I had explained to the lads that I wanted them to break cleanlv. Several

times Tarleton did not do so. Also he butted Edwards with his head a few

{imes. "Edwards did better towards the end and won by a. small margin."