IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 12

IN THE RING.

FUNERALS AND CORONATIONS. | (Br "Meucuht.") To-night—Kelly and J. Griffin (Blenheim). September 22—Tracy v. Hannan, «.Z. Light-weight Championship (Town Hall). September 29—Tracy v A. Gault (Wanganui). October 2.—World's Championship: John--1 son v. Wells (London). Poor, Poor "Bill" Lang, ( "Hill" Lang has walked the boards for tho last lime in the role of prospective champion. For a while—for exactly how long lies in tho hands of Fate, as represented! for the nonce, by the dark-hucd forms of Langford and 51'Vea—his place on the bills will be filled by that tempestuous youngster, "Jack" Lester, and the play will still go on much tho same as far as tho box office receipts are concerned.

Nevertheless the scratching of Langs name from the cast is accompanied by a certain amount of rcgrot. For "Victoria's Bill" was a trier, and it must bo said that, although ho did not achieve succoss, he did all that was in him to merit it. Naturo had fitted him well for his chosen profession up to a certain point—and then She let him down. She endowed him with strength, physique, and courage, but omitted that very necessary ingredient—pugnacity. Lang is by nature peaceable—not to say sluggish. His natural physical advantages,, helped by a certain degree of attained manual dexterity, carried him along the Toad of success, to a certain point, and then his temperamental disabilities threw him down by the wayside, whero he nonlies in poor plight' In short, Lang did not fight because it was his'nature so to do—ho fought because it was his "job' to fight. With him it was the daily round, the same "demnition grind" that irked slr. Mantalini—and still irks the bulk of humanity. , _ 1 Lang's was not one of those dispositions that would rather fight than cat —one of those natures that have made champions of men less physically gifted—Uie "Billy' Murphvs, Bob Fitzsimmonses, Stanley Ketchells, Ad. Wolgnsts, "Battling" Nelsons, and so on. And all this is just tho difference between "Bill" Lang, the deposed, and "Jack" Lester, tlio just-ar-rived. Moreover it is about the only difference in Lester's favour; otherwise—in experience and boxing ability—the advantage was with Lang. But the youngster has the pugilist's "divine afflatus"—combativeness—to which quality ho owes thanks for his present proud position, and to the lack of which quality the illfated Lang owes all the other side of the story. This is no temporary check for -Lang. It seems to spell his finish, and it could not lwve cotno at a moro inopportune time. In a month or so Langford and M'Vea will'bo ready for action in Australia, and there would then have been good money for Lang—if he had stood. Defeat at tho hands of these acknowledged heads of Jlio game would have loft lam whero he was before. But now, defeated on tho threshold of great opportunities by a comparative novice—well, what moro? Coronations Follow Funerals. Tilings beam for Lester now, and the way is cleared. lie can. demand matches whore, before, ho could only beg. Ho has now'got his footing on tho ladder,, and, even if he is knocked off again by tho black occupants of the higher rungs, he has ample time to make another start, for ho is not yet a man for age. So it is Coronation time for Lester, and funeral time, for Lang. What a trick of happenings together coronations and funerals do have! Le roi est mort; vivo le roi. ■ . Of the battle, we have yet to get'particulars. From the brief and jerky account whicli|bbred il's .way to.,jis.. l Uirquga. the cable it appears to have 'been'a desperate bout and when tho details come, they should show that Lester wore his man down by sheer impetuosity and speed. Ho would never have won on' points, unless ho has improved wonderfully in boxing and ring craft'. It will bo remembered that', on tho previous occasion Lang was well ahead on points when Lester's fonl brought about the finish. There is of courso tho possibility that Lang was not at his best. The.men were to have met' on tho Saturday previous, but Lang was laid aside by a bout of influenza, . and so a postponement became necessary. A week is little enough time in' whicii to shake off the effects of such an attack and no doubt this excuse will be made for the Australian. Since Agamemnon took Troy thero has never yet been a downfall without excuses.

A Peep at Lester Training. A peep at Lester's training operations may be of interest at this paint. A Sydney pressman writing just before the battle, said: I ivas one of a. party who motored out to the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany, on Wednesday, to see "Jack" Lester go through his afternoon's toil, and ho did well all that had been set' •down for him. Three fast and vigorous rounds with "Hoy" Kenny, a fino young fellow who promises to bccomo very popular, served to show tho newcomer in a really good light; he stood well up to Lester's rushes- and clashed, niul often got his . head out of trouble in a manner which evoked loud burst's of applause. Kenny showed enough to convinco mo that, though "Dave" Smith says that "Ted" Whiting gave him a lot of trouble when thoy met, Whiting will need to be all. that."Dave's" recommendation makes him out to get away with the latest American to come amongst us. "Jack" Lester did somo useful turns with tho Sandow oxcrciser; he also punched the bladder good and hard, and played tho medicine ball with t'he North Queensland giant, "Paddy" Simmons, and Kenny; Lester, as a rule, taking the heavy downward doublehand throws by Simmons on one or other jaw, so that that part of him might become inured to' weighty thumps. It was a fine work-out that pleased I'ho onlookers.

The World's Light Championship. On Thursday, November 20, the next battle for the world's light-weight premiership will be settled under conditions set forth below. As in the case of tho Inst battle for tho title—that between 'Wolgast, tho holder, and Owen Moran— the affaii will bear an international aspect—tho challenger in the present instance, as then, being an Englishman. Curiously enough, the latter, "Freddy" Welsh, although not tho present English champion at the weight, has secured tho match, notwithstanding that "Matt" Wells, who is the champion, is in the States, and has been after Wolgast hotloot for some months past. However, matters have been so arranged that Wells, of whom moro anon, is to have his try at the winner later on. An extract from a Los Angeles "Examiner" to hand by the last mail gives particulars as under i— "Tho battle for tho light-weight championship of tho world between Ad. Wolgast, the present holder of tho title, and I'red Welsh, tho English challenger, will be staged in Southern California on Thanksgiving Day, November 30. The match, which is second to none in importance in tho pugilistic world, will take placo at the Vornon Arena, under the management of Tom M'Carey, of the Pacific Athletic Club of Los Aneeles, over tho twenty-round route. The exact terms- are not to bo made public at once, but nil the details are perfectly satisfactory to both parlies. Tho matter of a weight forfeit was willed, and both fighters will post HOOdols. with M'Carey thirty days before tho fight, agreeing that they will make 13311), ringside. Two men are down on the list for referee, and both suit the contending parties. Jf'Carey will chooso the man who wilt fill the place. Tho men proposed arc Eddio Smith and Jack Welsh, both of long ring experience. Last week we were informed liy cable that "Matt" Wells outpointed "Knockout" Brown in a 10-roinnl bout in New York. This same Brown is one of the slilTest propositions in (ho light-weight division in tho Stales, and on two occasions has cot newspaper decisions over champion Ad. Wnlgast in short bouts. The result of AVells's victory, which was a decided one. has been that ho is now right iu lino for a championship battle.

Naturally enough, ho is soro that Welsh has been given n'rst try,, and is determined to make, tho winner of tlio WolgastWolsh affair toe the mark—an issue that neither of them cau now well avoid.

There is a chance then, as will be soon, that the light-weight title will leave America for England. Perhaps, even in the event of .Welsh healing Wolgast, there way bo the vor.v pleasing prospect of two Englishmen competing for it on English toil again. Tho title, by the way, lett England in June, 1890, when "l)ick, liu i'lt, (ho holder, was defeatod by "h'hj Langne at the National Sporting Club, and in America it has stayed ever since. In fact, until Owen Morau essayed the task in June last—cxactly fifteen years after—no Englishman has ever tried to regain it. Now, there are two after it. May success attend their efforts. Apropos of tho light-weight championship, tho last American mail brought word that this month—the exact day was not stated—Ad. Wolgast and "I'ncky M'Farland are to try conclusions over a 111-round journey at Milwaukee. This will have no bearing on tho allocation of the title, as M'Farland cannot rjttiU> the weight, but as ho is admittedly the best man of his poundage ill America, it will furnish a good indication of \Yolgast's abilities. Stadium Fixtures. The "Sun" lias something to Bay over tho war cloud which is now beginning to lower over Sydney:—"During ' the past couple of days Mr. 11. I). M'lntosh lias beou revising" the list of Stadium fixtures, and as a result of tho overhaul has altered the dates of some of the engagements. The contest betweeni "Ted' j\hiting and "Roy" Kenny, which was listed for Wednesday night next, lias been put back to Saturday, September 16, while tho "Hughio" Moliegan-Franlc Picato engagement has besn set down for September 23. Tho last-mentioned alteration I has made it impossible for Australia's I light-weight champion to meej "Jack Head on September 30, and consequently that date has been alloted "Jack ' Lester and "Sam" M'Voa. On the night of October V "Dick" Cullen will fight Read, providing the ex-amateui agrees to tho match, and on October H Mehegan will face Hock Keys. According to the cables, Mr. M'lntosh will liave to mako further revision of his plans i£ it is a fact that "Jack" Johnson has cancelled his Australian tour. No reason lias been assigned for this action of the champion so far, but it is probablo that the cause lies in tho serious illness of • his wife. In any case, tho defection will be most disappointing to tho Australian public, and it will_ rob tho coining season of a lot of its interest. The Fury of These Negroes. The following cable was received in Sydney during tho week, dated from New A boxing rnatcli took plaoe-at the National Sporting Club, New York, between "Sam" Langford and Joo Jeannette, tho two American negro heavyweights. Langford outfought Jea.nnette, and won in ten rounds. Jeannette was floored in the first round, and Langford was knocked down in tho second. Lvcu fighting followed. In the sixth round both tho boxers were cautioned for holding. Both men gave and took heavy punishment. Jeannette led in the seventh and eighth, rounds, but hi- the tenth round Langford. fighting like a demon, sent Jeannette down, Ihe rciereo oonntod three, and Jeannette rose again, but Langford punished him with, licavy blows until tho ond of tho round. Hannan's Re-arrival Here. As reported in Thursday's Dominion, "Billy" Hannan ha? returned in quest of "Tim" Tracy's light-weight title, tho eettlemcnt of which is to take place at tho Town Hall on September 22. Both men aro quietly confident, and both aro. fit and \yell, so great things aro to bo exl>ccted. A very interesting letter has been received during the. week by a member of tho local association from Owon Tancred, the local middle-weight amateur champion, who is at present in Sydney, in which he has much to say about boxers and bouts he has seen there. Unfortunately,. however, space does* not permit of its rpWicattort'this week, so it is held over until next Saturday. For tho same reason, comment on the Australasian championships is also hold over. Meitnwhilo hearty congratulations are in order to Hegarty, in his win in the lightweights—the only success scoured by tho New Zealand representatives. To-night, in Blonheim, Arthur Kelly and J. Griffin will box tho best of fifteen rounds for a »CGO purse. Mr. T. W. Sampson, of tho local association executive, has accepted a.n invitation from the Wanganui Association to referee the Tracy-Gault match on the 29th instant.