BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 12

BOXING.

tßy MEnoont.) Tilings in tho boxing world are slack at present. In Now Zealand the close season is on, in Australia thoro is a calm after the Squires-Laug conflict, and in America apparently there is nothing but newspaper talk about tho probability of big Jim Jeffries coming out into tho open to meet Johnson. Tho discussion, which had subsided somewhat after Jeffries's emphatic statement that ho was through with tho game for good madewhen refusing Wren's offer of a purso of £10,000, win, lose, or draw, has received a fresh impetus. The big ex-champion has gono so far as to appear in tho Wigwam Theatro in San Francisco in a sparring and skipping exhibition for u salary of 3000 dollars a week by the way, , and tho knowing ones are hailing this as tho preliminary to active service. Jeffries still reiterates that ho is not coming into the ring again, and is only doing tho showman act on account of tho easy money, but his statements do not carry conviction. Reports to hand regarding his stage work show that tho critics are well pleased with his showing. Certainly it is admitted that ho is very gross and soft, but witnesses say that ho still retains his old punch, vigour, and speed, and that it is only a matter of getting tho embonpoint within bounds to bring him into tho ring fit and well again. Pending Jeffries's decision, Johnson, in the meantime, seems to have nothing to worry him in tho mattor of keeping tho titlo. Ho is billed to fight Sam Langford in London on May 24, but whether ho will bo there to do so is doubtful—very. Stanley Ketchell has issued a challenge for tho black, but as Ketchcll has declined to meet Langford for the middleweight championship, nothing will conio of that. Still another Australasian ox-amateur champion is going over to tho professionals. First this season was Davo Smith, the heavy-weight, then Billy Elliott, tho feather, and now Elliott's predecessor in that class. Fitzjohn has left tho amateur ranks. Ho is scheduled to fight Tommy Hanley on the S)th instant. According to tho "Referee," Unholz, the Boer, intends leaving for England on March 26. This clashes badly with his intentions, as set forth in his letter to this paper, that was published last week, in which he expressed an intention of coming over to New Zealand. Unholz is anxious to get a match with Arthur Douglas, his follow South African, beforo leaving Australia, and it is likely that he will bo accommodated on tho 24th instant at the Stadium, Sydney. In the meantimo ho gives Hughio Mcgoham a return battle on Monday night at the Cyclorama, Melbourne. Tommy Burns's theatrical venturo is off. Dealing with this matter, the "Referee , . , has tho following, in which, by the way, sonio moro arrangements are made for Unhofe's future movements: —Tommy Burns having failed to complete his contract for the leaso of tho Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, it is no\v reported in this city that tho oxchampion will lcaso tho Stadium, Sydney, for tho purpose of conducting important fistic engagements therein. Battling Nelson v. Rudolph Unholz is said to bo ono of tho first matches likely to bo pulled off, and there appears to bo some truth in this proposed engagement, for tho American correspondent of the London "Sportsman" states that Battling Nelson is about to tour tho world, but will only fight in Australia where he has dreams of a £6000 purso for a go at Unholz. Tl'ero will bo a rude awakening for Mr Nelson when it does come to actual figures.