BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 12

BOXING.

(By Mjractmr.l

"Billy" ' Elliott, "the young English boxer ■ who got to the top of the amateur tree in New Zealand sonio seasons back, and ended his amateur career by. winning the Australasian featherweight championship, iB rapidly coming into hi 3 own in Australia. It will be remembered that, after his defeat of Godfrey in the local Opera House—his first i professional bout, and a contest which for pace and skill is still quoted as being ths local association's high-water mark—he went to Sydney to try his luck. His start thore was not promising. His first opponent was "Dealer" Wells, and, though Elliott made an excellent impression, the vcrdiot went against him. Then he was beaten by Frank Fitzjohn. Gradually, however, he has made up his leeway, and now is in the direct, running for no less a title than that of featherweight champion' of Australia, ajid ho had to work to earn this distinction. It is one of tho prizes—perhaps the most coveted—of tho "feather" tourney promoted in Sydney by Mr. H. I), Mlntosh, wherein eight specially picked boxeTs were invited to take-part. ■ Tho prizes ■were set down at .£7O and £40 foT the final, ,£ls each for tho beaten semi-final, and £5 . each for the four beaten in tho preliminaries. In addition, the winner was to be matched against "Sid" Sullivan for tho "feather" supremacy. It will thus bo seen that tho affair was a matter of some importance, and Elliott's doings have been watched with a good deal of interest on this side. On the concluding night of the tourney four men were left in—"Billy" Elliott, Lobres, Joe Conroy, and "Sailor" Dnify' The two last-named boxed first—the seaman scoring a win in six rounds. N ra t Elliott' and Lebrm put up a fast and vigorous "go," Ihnt went to the exMnorilaud champion in tho ninth round Then came the final. In this Elliott was decidedly handicapped bv (he fact that he not only had bo-red a longer and mor* severe genii-final - (has, Duffy, bat

that he also had far • less spell before turning out again.. In fact, his actual rest.wa.3 only 20 minutes. However, his skill and condition stood to him well, and he ran out a winner, after a bout described in tho "Referee," as under:— "Proceedings began at a brisk clip. Past as one challenged, tho other responded, and challenged again and brought the whole of his equipment in power and skill to bear.. Duffy got some great work in on the head and face, and not n few telling blows to the body, and Elliott did likewise, and also notched a nice lot of offective left jabs. Rallies followed quickly upon each other, and an oxcited house obeored uproariously. Tho seaman was the stronger of the two, and ho had had a much longer rest than Elliott, consequently onlookers thought 'Billy's' prospects hardly rosy. Elliott, however, kept going, and had the othor man moving, too, as quickly and cleverly as he knew how, with the result that a good, even go caused 'Snowy' Baker to order another round. There could be no draw—a winner was wanted to meet Sid Sullivan to-night. In the next—the eleventh—three minutes Elliott boxed with great dash, and bagged a goodly heap of points, with the result that ho got first money." As stated, Elliott has now to battle for the Australian feather-weight title. He was to have met "Sid" Sullivan on Wednesday, April 20, but the weather was too bad and the battle was postponed until yesterday week. Once again, however, the weather was unpropitious, and the Stadium management called another postponement. So the result of the clash will not be obtainable until next week's' mail. Sullivan, Elliott's opponent, is featherweight, champion through Frank Thorn's ignoring of bona-fide challenges, and when cornered putting forward impossible conditions. Anothsr New Zealand boxer is making good progress in Sydney, although in another way. Says "Amateur"; '"Dave' Smith-was successfully operated on at a private hospital last Thursday for some nasal trouble. I am glad to be able to say that 'Dave' will he out and about within the next few days." "Jack" Clarke, who mot' A. LecMe, the local middle-weight three times last season, figured in his first big match on. the ; other side last Monday week, when he met "Dave" Walker-at the cyclorama, Melbourne. Tho event is described as having, been a fine one with very little between the men at the finish, whatever advantage there was being on the side of the Victorian who got the verdict at the : end -of 20 rounds. Tho gate was largo and the impression made by Clarke was a favourable' one, so that his debut was hot altogether unsuccessful. Still another boxer, well known in Wellington, has been in the public eye across the Tasman. This is "Gns" Devitt, who also waged his first big contest sinco landing in Australia. Of the encountcrtho "Referee" says: "'Ted' Johns, bro- ■ ther of ex-welter champion George, met 'Gus' Devitt, tho New Zealand champion, at the Brisbane Stadium. 'Jack' Blackmore, who is to meet 'Les.' O'Donnell at Toowoomba in a 20 rounds' contest, was referee, and he .filled the ■ position cap'ably. The weights of both principals were given out; as lOst. 81b. each, and both looked in the pink of condition. The opening rounds were quiet; nothing- ■ of moment, occurring, Devitt showing /good defence. Half-way through they mixed it freely, but in. the eighth round Dovitt did best work, and secured the lead, which he continued to.hold to the twelfth. They both showed up in the next couple of rounds, but in the fourteenth Johns worked to close quarters, and,' whipping • in a right, the Maori-, lander, was counted out. The contest" was a good one, with Johns showing best work at close quarters, and the New Zealander's clean' boxing gained him a lot of admirers. Devitt rose immediately the count was finished, and seemingly was surprised that he was counted but." -The "London Sportsman" of recent date gives details of a meeting in Paris (the second) between Australian "Sid" .Russell and the American "Jim" 'Stewart, early in March. When the men met previously a'draw resulted, and, on the present occasion, both men waded in in a very determined style to avoid a repetition. The account under notice says that Stewart appeared quite 2st. heavier than. tho Australian, and stood at least four, inches, taller.;, Of, Russell's displayit is very complimentary,, and says that "he showed up to even greater advantthan heretofore, attacking all .through; "and as''usual giving, 'proof of clever defensive tactics. Stewart made use of stinging right uppercuts, but very few landed, most of his scoring being with lefts to the face and at close quarters. At tho end of 20 rounds the i men wore remarkably fresh, although. Russell had his left eye somowhat marred. .■■■■-■ ■ . : ' i I Considering Russell's severe handicap in poundage and height, he did remarkably well, so much so that the referee's decision in .awarding the event to "Jim" Stewart was badly received.' Up to the fifth round things were of an even character, both men boxing fast and Well. The next four rounds w'ero in Russell's favour. Although both were doing their utmost to precipitate matters, Stewart's blows often .missed, especially his uppercut, and the '■ Australian did' well, with lefts to the face and rights to the body. In tho tenth round Stewart evidently meant to end matters. Ho sent in several uppercuts, any one of whioh meant an end to the combat; but Russell cleverly kept out of harm's way. The eleventh and twelfth rounds were even, the thirteenth swerving' slightly in Stewart's favour. The fourteenth round was oven, but-the fifteenth 'arid sixteenth again were for Stewart.. Both contestants were still rer/arkably fresh, Russell skipping- tt. -„is corner. Stewart now cut out a rare pace, bringing his right, into play, to little purpose however for . Russell's splendid defence nullified his opponent's knock-out punches, rill the twentieth round both men, aU though strong, slowed up somewhat. The pace had been very brisk for heavyweights, and it began to. toll. Nevertheless, neither man was ever in trouble. Russell worked like a Trojan in the last round, Stewart scoring in. the in-fight-ing. Seldom has suoh' a good contest been witnessed between big men in Paris." .That clever little Welsh boxer, Owen Moran, has met with a check in America at the hands of one "Tommy" Murphy in New - York. Much interest was taken .in the meeting—the gate totalling to i£l623—and the verdict, a win on points for Murphy, met with disfavour. A return event was being talked of when the mail left, this time in San Francisco, where the matter can bo argued to a finish, and Moran -has offered to bet any part of .£IOOO he can turn the tables. Writing of the Johnson-Jeffries disturbance, an American scribe says' Los' Angeles sporting men have offered Richard and Gleason -£30,000 for the big light, and merchants of Salt Lake City have offered them a. bonus'of JSOOO to bring off the battle in Utah. Officially the exact location is not yet decided ' Says the "London Sportsman" of March 10, about a match of great interest among the small men of tho boxing world—"small" in stature, "Mercury" means, not in reputation ■.—"Yesterday's 'Sportsman' contained a paragraph to the effect that Fred. Welsh had accepted the purse of ,£ISOO .offered by the National Sporting Club for a match between himself and Packv M'Farland and that in al! probability the two would' come together on the Monday in Derby w< !f, k V n ,w '""'J?, is ,10w Praotically settled. Overnight, the news was wired to M'Farland, who is in Dublin, and lie prompt y. replied agreeing to. the terms, while the business was further advanced by Welsh signing articles vtstorday calling for a contest with M'Farland on Monday, May 30, tho conditions being as already agreed upon, viz., twenty rounds at 9st. 71b., weigh at two o'clock on the day. The American will reach London to-day to put his signature to the agreement. It is pleasing to hear that the way has been paved for a bout which should not only create a very l amount of interest—especially so. seciu<» that the men will clash on the Monday in Derby week-but will also enable the two to settle the vexed question of superiority under the fairest conditions'." Derby week is the first week-in June and if tho engagement has been dulv clinchcd, a great, contest will ensue" "Freddy" Welsh is the foremost of the English "feathers,", and will be remembered as beating "Johnny" Summers just, prior to the hitter's departure for Australia. "I'acky" M'l'Yrlaiid is a vorv 'well-known figure in America, and fs supposed to be one of the most stylish boxers extant. "Tommy" Burns lias written of him that lie "i:j a reallv beautiful hoxw,• who can hit effectively from almost m\y single, and who has been I

down for 'iiin*,' recovered, and beaten his oponent to a standstill." The latest from Stanley. Ketchel, now training for a six-round bout with Frank hJaus in Pittsburg, is that he will be at the ringside on July 4, and will bo prepared to take the place of either Jeffries or Johnson. Meanwhile, he will also box Al Kaufman in Philadelphia. ,<m ays . V™ "Sydney Arrow" of April 20:-10-night at tlie Gaiety Jack Mnloney (iNew Zealand s heavy-weight) and Ike Stewart-our old friend of the big smile t i •!? . KRer heart—will ho opponents. Jack Moloney comes endorsed as Maoriland s heavy-weight champion."