LANG V. SQUIRES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 429, 11 February 1909, Page 4

LANG V. SQUIRES.

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.OF 'AUSTRALIA.

•';■ DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEST. An enormous crowd;witnessed the boxing, contest 'at the Stadium oh' between Bill Lang and Bill Squires for tho heavyweight championship of Australia (says tho ; Sydnoy-' "Daily. Telegraph''.).-.!■. As"- far "as ■ could be'judged (the view was,'of course, hot nearly'as clear as ' in.daylight); there could not have been within 'the enclosure a great many short of ;tho 20,000 - pcbjne Vho'witnessed tho battle, between Burns and Johnson, last'year, and outside there wero probably almost as niany more.' It was, at. all events, a vast throng. The promoters never antici-: pated such an attendance, and were- consequently not as thoroughly prepared as,they, should havo.bcen.' Quito early it-"was discovered -that the. police arranged for fell a great ■ deal. short ";of : requirements;. and the' services of 50 more constables "werO'requisi-.! tioned.- .About;half-past 8 tho entrance to the cheaper sections was .carried away,'arid people litorally :p6ured - through the opening before tho. management could block it up. again. ■:';■'■■:>;:•;.;;. :"-:-.;;■ -.-■;., ,-■:■ ;;;:'.:■;;' -...-Beforehand-Squires'expressed tho greatest confidorico in his: prospects,' and tho Lang party told all inquirers'that they- considered, the fighta "good thing", for'-, their "Bill.":.,: : A good deal of/betting took place on the quiet. .For some time the backers of Squires laid .6,t0 4. ; on:their man,',but there!was- so: much' Lang-money, .that .before. thb:,contesi,begari the odds'wero,aishade in,his favour.- ' J?ri6r'to.'-leaving' Anstraliax.in '1907 .'Bill. Squires.had mot;arid defeated every heavyweight .of. repu'to'in;thb"'country .excepting Bill Larig,. whom -he..never'".faced,' .because ;when6ver;a match betweeh'the'pair-was,dis-oussed.spmothirig or' Other, .'t-o,'which. heither : Was' a.pai'ty, prevent -.a\meeting. In.'the meantime Lang -kept on iihproyihg,' .and.; his-: couple: of .'months' : .association -with Johrisoh'as one, of'the.coloured'man's spar-1 ring ;assistants::trimmed'.him' off;;so'that:-his ;f riends felt surehe [ could defeat Squires ;', in-' deed Johnson 'stated in an; interview'after.the: Burns; battle that "Lahg-,'gave ' trouble.during: their'training bouts than, did :-tee ; ex-ohampioh;of the worlfin the-big'fighfc; ••; Though: 'tne.Aoxers.Swer'e'' <lue -' in : tho -ring at.8.30, ,they.did : .not,show; ; up;till;2o;ininut'es later,}and'.both met.with a: great' reception.. ■ Squires"had-for seconds',his.trainer(3iiriniy .Russell), I 'sparring Assistant ;'(Joe -Costa); .Billy; MIColi;. and>O'Sullivan.'.:'With. Lang wore his'; brother; :: Saml Ktzpa trick,. - and "Soldier 1 .; BilLThompson';",; ;';;:;;, ; '..? ,••' ;l

••'■-.;Arthur'Bcbtt- boxing mstfuotor hi.the.New ' South ;.>yales. Sports (Jlubf wd's .agreed tb/ as referee; and'Mr; ;W.T.'Kerr held the '-watch'.' ; 'Stripped;;;Laiig stood ;mubh- : taller:/and heavier/than Squires, who'appeared/to; .be lightcr:,than,everbefofo;,/an'd his-sun-tanned. .bpdy:>as in; striking cpitrast/'to: the white■nessbf Lang's skin.; .';:■ /;/- ; /:/;;':"/;;'; ; -Mr, '.Scott' explained 'that /the new : Sydney ."Referee"/rules' would-'govern the//contest,and ga'vb 1 particulars. as ■to the provision ;for a'cleaii;break.';which required that Men'the order "break-, /was- giveiv/each ./man,'.should, step baek a. pace/without! attempting to de/ liver :a blow: ■■ /../; '"■'/ ■'.'■}■'-\' ■'-:: '.;-;;;'; ■/ ;; ;; /-'Pplico : Inspector .Matthews'examined and weighpd/.the/glovesV'ahd found them .exactly six .ounces eaoh.;.: ;-///:/•;:/:;/::--/;;':; ' --://'-; .earlier;; rounds;. arid /evidenced;/ more - confidence than his opponent; who appeared. nervously anxious. /;Nb;'„sooner:had time ; ; been, called 'for- .the/first round .than Squires, made', vigorous play, 'sending lefts..'and/rights"'home/' .to the body,/and ohcej.,.witli, : 'his head,downand ;agaiiist/the':Vlctbria'u'&"stbrnach:/forced Lang aorbss the 'ring, -.using left;and right'.the while/amid a> scene of .extraordinary, excitement.'./ Several; scuffles: ofva; harmless nature; occurred;' and here and there ;-Lang'.managed'/ to a weighty, left/'.to;the;head,;'or\a", gopcUnghf'in wb ribsi. .Already-many:peo-ple noted i-niubh- improvement/in' the/methods' of each; and: Squires' showed* greater/ generaU ship than in .'any. ; previbti3 ; battle/.Loud cheer- ■ ; ing- followed ;the, pair to;- their: seats;;;'/:;/'- ;v /-They-were/a •'very, busy, couple in the second round/ ;Sbuires;dealt",ou{-somo: good blows to thp; body',; but thus early'itbecamo; plain/that his; lost punch had .hot returned frPm Amer,ica;/;Lam; paid most"attention/to. the;face;, and -oteasibnally,/whehi : oppbrturiity offered, placed;;somo.;well-iudged,:blpws;iri the' body. , X'he.ulen.-gave;tho;refer.eb : vbry , little trouble,, :though plinches' were-frequehtV'as the; broke' ' direotly' upon- hearing I 'the /braer) ,or- feeling ;.a slap -upon : : tho back. ■: -v -.-/- ■ ; ; /; - - /;' •■•//; -' /, ; -..•■.; .:■:- /. ;' Lang ; shapSd : AVith greater'confidence in the ; scebnd round; but/'Squires still had '■ the baK ■ancp; of ; . points/his way/;-'// vV;/; >';'/:.;';'/;/ '•/.Squires- c'Phtin'uod./to'"'lead; throughout/the thirdVroUnd.;;; One Heavy/'right ; /under/;/tlia ;lieart/was inentj, as Lang got 'to close 4uarters;/Swingihg\ngh{,and left'to,the/body- aiidijabbing a heavy: left/tb;the iaceiz/Squires; was forced to the "ropes','-and/actually;'down on the'-lower strand'' bofbre he could' evadb the furious on-' slaiight."/ Squires 'had/a /habit /of' clinbhing very, low-fbelow/the''knees' sometimes-*-when .hotly;prfflscd./and:though this/saved 1 him;frei quently/it/often; brought' trouble," ai-/ ; Lang; ffbund/ppchingS'.for/'uppercuts/' ;' //Near'..theclose of ;the round some :ing./:occurred;; : both playing /about .the/body. ! for..'several s'ebonds.bpfore .the! gong flanged;-' i. and' the', cheering '/.demonstrated 'how/keenly spectators/appreciated ;the- fact."/: ' ■'.'.' ';■ '7/ /.;Durini»: ,'tho; fourth;/Sqmrbs:-,was./ roughed tb, thb;floor,/'a : happening;to:which-lie cintri--1 buted as/much':as [Lang; ahd'the/hoets for' the Inttbr'-'were.consequently/undeserved.'' Af-' better'than'the other - man,/and: the; round ended/with; honours' fairly, eveh;';''::/;;'/-/'';-;/:////./.;/'-'/ •■■-.■;.: ;'■■-"Twice in'the/fifth Lang uppercut vei'y'ef-' feotively: with ■: the/ right/in ; 'clinches'. : /-'Both' ! blows were., 'distinct/TjreaPhesi of ;.the iuleft; - and :he hit, in ;the, same • several times 'afterwards,;./During some .'fast, work- "against the. rbpes/SquireS's foot slipped /under'the lower, one;.iandihe wont, down to/his knee;' I. but 1 /was/up/ again Si; quioklyv and./ fighting as . hard as'over.'' v Squires's'mouth; bled/slightly hererfa iact/ f fbr' which:/Lang's'/uppercuts were/; fesrAjn'sible./: ;The/Victorian''had 1 :/' the. better, of. this round,', ! and showed/marked im- ; 1 provehie'nt;in/atta'ck/'':';///' ! :: ". v v:-/ ; / !; :!.' "'■!-'': ■' The'sixth provcd!'a,busy/time,;bui nothing of .moment occurred,/and/Lang retired'fflr his .'seconds' attention' apparently the stronger -manv-; ;':'/;/■"'; ■?..■■'••:':.. ;/"':■/';/.://'/'; : /;:'- ; /

■-.;.. Lang's /earliest rush of, the. seventh round was" such'a furious ,one that ho.almost went ■ clean-over: Sq'uires's stooped body.: At long: .rarige/Squires'did'best) .but'when they, 'got together; his teeth' rattled .from -.the/power: of Lang's,uppercuts;.; Some exciting- work: oh 1 the ropes, ended-theround';'/'.-: /';'/v///';;; .-The/ eighth' was/mostly'/Squires's roundj' but (neither;, remained- 'idle,, longer ;thaii.'he could/kelp.;://;;■;../'/;. :/:';/: .:.:-:"'': : // :;. ,' _Thoy were .going strongly, immediately; the .ninth round opened. ■'■ After;a.few. exchanges Lang forced the, work, and,-charging fiercely, compolled.Squires .to; go ."down 'to his knee's ■'tiff.i avoid!.; .Again did':'Squires'smouth; bleed through, the;power/ that his 'opponent■ put into those'.close-range upward jolts with', the right.,. A loft' hook'to..Lang's stomaoh,' beforo the effect of' which he bent bow-like, 'was .one .of the/few" very hard blowß-. of/the'contest,, and Squires -lost a good; chance by-;being : slow ;to follow, up-.the/advahtagei V' .:.'.... ;; ■The tenth .saw:. Squire's: falling " off.' in strength, and, persistencyof attack; ho: kept backing /away.when pressed,., but still fmariagfld- ,to laud, several blows—light ones, as a' rule. ! Lang; went to/ his comer'strong as bould ; be,- and.plainly strong enough to; see; another .dozen, rounds:through;;:'■•.',■;,,..■-,:: : -; ; ..v

: Lang .had.the ~better of ; . the: . elovontli round, andsteadied his man .twice;With\ stiff lefts to the, throat." ;once : the:. Victorian charged :at : such..a : fierce.cait.ithat.Squires fell : to his knee's.before ther'orislaught'.iri a neutral, .corner.; ';; -■:,' A;. .'V : ;:..'. : m;,k; i, ;:,'.-, Twice during the twelfth-:Squires- s nearly backed through the ropes; but he cameNback and landed such atelling left and right, thi(t hundreds of people; roared "Finish,'him, Bill!",but the. other, Bill;'.assimilated'. thepunishment easier tbaii.it was expected ;he would. .'Squires made' impact'from a yard away nearly with right: uppercut; which Lang mover attempted to :Stopy ,and 'the. blow sent him back- in his tracks'for a- moment' Lang. charged ■ impetuously,"; and ■■ passed his opponent as the latter) ducked,', but returning quick as'a .flash,: the- Victorian drove \i right uppercut home, which must have done somo harm,'.; Undeterred, -.Squires fought back desperately,; till. Lang .was glad : to clinch. Bill.; Squireß '.kept coming, lauding' left tind.right about- tlio bbdv, 'and a most exciting rally, ended-the .best round of the battlfl. .■-'■• "■ ' "" '■'■■:■: -V ■'.' ..

. .Lang's right uppercut while clinched, was.: noticeable'in the thirteenth.round, and Squiros's _mquth blq'd ■again;'.:A right swing:, to the chin just made contact, and no'.■more, : but Lang shook" from head to heel as a ship, that had struck a . sunken rock. Squires had.tho; points,' but there .was ho power! in most, of his'efforts. ..... ■'•-■'': -. Squires did. some harm' with lefts to the ■ throat,. and , a couple "'; of. rights .under tho heart in. tho.'-"fourteenth;' and they were hard. .at it .hammer, arid,tongs when,tho bell separ-\ ated them.. Each ■ appeared to-' be as strong as-.the; other going to corners. {:<'.■. ■ Squires was not. so much in it'.'during, ths.fifteenth round, but: he. still" appeared' an; even-money charico when tho minute's'spell ■ arrived. ,;.:', : ; '■;..>'■ ,>!;/ : ,-\-\ :'■-,,'- : '■'■-■' '; :. Tlie sixteenth was .nearly all'Lahg's round.' Near tho end: a rightswing'to the jaw shook' Squires up sbiadly that the sound of .the ''. gong at'tho. moment-saved-him as he had just, staggered back'tb the ropes', and 'looked m dire .trouble;. '■•.; , ''f/ ! '>v •'"-■'■£■-,';■;;.', ; : : - ■ :;:" • ■ The '; seventeenth, round;;brought 'the ; ' end. : i Squires shaped lip very Unsteady;on.his,legs;,: ; Lefts and.rights;were exebauged,and:Lang: drove, a heavy "right ,tb' tho jaw."and jolted. his left: to the other side: '-Squires sagged .'in; . the legs,' ;but.faced' the: situation' bravely.'.'A'' very wicked right swung from Lang; missedits mark; ,but a right-'uppercut to -.the'"jaw : and a -right', swing: to the;chin was: such a ■ 'severe, blow that Squires backed .away :in: a very i shaky condition, consequently : a'. quickly following right swing '- sent; hrm down,; .where"' he was couuted but:with his" shoulders against tho ropes,; and His 'head'.'dropping. -;'.lt-was' not the force of .the ;last'How: that'did :the, damage; it .was a' light "'one' comparatively,' arid' laiidod: high .iip„; but' he • was, : completely ;done,,though .directly,the; count .ended.ha'.' rose,arid moved, quicklyi to his" chair. , ; w :; '• : ;' Squires: shpwcd:'plainly'.;thatjie;-had;gone'-back a gooddeal'liy. fighting.,strength;!-both" "as:a .hitter; and in -stamina,; but'ho displayed'greater generalship than' ever^ra.result or 'hia experiences::in $morti&^----i-?^^JJ\\;j-J:~ : i.

; .-.TheJ'Sydney. Morning.Herald" m'its no-;: count; of tho■■- contest;. states :'^Notwitnstar.3-.''. •ing ! tho;iact:;tha^'-;bath-meti were^iii:;deadl.v; earnest' right.;tlirpugh' ; ';thb ;coiites'tx'oho'could;! not vhelp ; pondering /over :■ the^decadchco : > ih--presentrday.'.-.- ,boxing.' /. 'showed any,,^reat,,a^ even: tllp.,Squires; \mosfctobhoxious?liahit:jof; ducking; clasping: his,opponent'round "the"lower-limbs.,' Laug relied}most..oh a>straiglitileft'leMvand, ,\ took for the;jaw..;As:a' : se6med ! 'to flhd.it-necessary:t6;keep.his right '■' ■hand up high,to protect .his jawf rom'SquirDs's' : rightrhand vswin'gs. and ;driyes;;..;One t .lpokc'd .'; in;rain;fo'r.a'rclever:e'xhibiticih ;of;foptwbrE';. Both,:nieh..seeinbd:.qtiitfl incapable of deliver- ; " ing' any blow ;.worthy;of the; hatue. unless 'they ft . remained .stock-still.'.;' Itespite'; the: fact;.that '■;■- the.'.rnen'.were 1 suppbsed"tpvbe ..fighting a cleanjbreaky.Lang.^cohtinually:'secured,;his • opponent withthis'lefthahd and kept pegging.;., away .with his right; not or would riot 'hear; the.nuuiy appeals fron>''■ ,Sq'uires!s seconds^:';"v-..y ;' y ;~/;.>,!:;;•]:■/•■; .