THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 5

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

■ IN THE RING. ——« ■STOP JOHNSON? STOP WELLS? ONE OF THE STRANGEST THINGS IN THE HISTORY OF BRITISH SPORT. (Bt "Mebcdrt.") October 2.—World's Championship: Johnson v. Wells (London). October 20. —Tracy r. Murphy (Millerton). October 31.—Tracy v. Kelly (Dunedin). November 9.—Tracy v. Hannan (Auckland). November 80. — World's Light-weight Champiouship: Wolgast v. Welsh (ban Francisco). Surpasses Human Understanding. It will be noticed that the big contest, Johnson v. Wells, has not been removed from the schedule of coming events at the head of this column. This is because, at the time of writing, it is not absolutely. settled that the affair is "off" —and, after all, while there is life thoro is hope. But it must be said that the hope is but a-small one. Why, is not so clear. Writing in middle of tho week, "Mercury" feels certain that tho end of tho week will see the veto. And, again, ho asks: Why? The contest has been opposed <on the grounds of general morality, also because of tho racial issues involved, and also—and how pitiful is this argument— because of its unfairness on account of the disparity in skill between the men. But, on none of these grounds nas the Home Secretary, Mr. Winston Chnrchill, issued his veto. The issue at stake apparently is the legality of such a match. To the lay mind this is astonishing—in fact, it surpasseth human understanding. Naturally the question arises as to why this contest is illegal when the LangLang ford match, for example, was not, and why, at the National Sporting Club, at Wonderland, and in fact all over England, glovo contests have been promoted, and carried off without a check. .Why ia this particular fixture tabooed? Echo ■answers "Why?"—and one wishes that the Home Secretary would do likewise.

0 Poor Britishers! What Next? 'Had the injunction been iasued oa any of the three grounds already Quoted, one could have understood the position to a certain extent. The firstmentioned—the general ' morality objection—is ono that is always with us. Tho racial aspect is comprehensiblo enough, although it is hard to see liow it outers into the question in England. In other sports it apparently does not. In wrestling, tor example, Bus, tho Hindu, has been lowering the prestige of the white races with a. lamentable persistence thoit has become monotonous, but no objection has been raised on the colour ciuestion. Moreover, this contest may have been—may still be—the very means of-re-asserting the white man's superiority. Surely it is lesa humiliating for the white man. to be allowed to measure his strength with the black than to tacitlv admit in advance that he is the black s inferior. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose by the venture. Tho defeat of Wells by Johnson would not alter the present position one jot. But should the reverse Kappon—what then? Then to a certain extent would tho -white man come into his owe again. Where is tho Old Fighting Spirit? As for the other objection—that the mattfh is not a sporting one because Wells is likely to be. eeaten—is it. one that a British community can mako seriously? If so, ono can only deploro the depths to which tie "sporting" instincts of the British community! has sunken. If so, what, has beoome'of the old British love of a bravo fight against odds? .Where.jsJJio old British 'fighting "spirit the old boast that an Englishman nevoT knows when he is beaten? Nowadays, apparently, ho is to know before : he tries. Can wo ask, like Horatius, "How can man die better than facing fearful odds?" Not' while we can be told that British opinion is opposed to a match because it was thongnt that the British champion might not win.

But why labour tliis view of tho case? It is so absolutely un-"English, so absolutely opposed to all the sporting instincts that are supposed to be—and w-hich have boen—part of the English "make-up," that one cannot think this objection is a serious ono. One is almost tempted to ask whether it would have boen made had the positions been reversed—tbat is, if Well 3 had been looked upon as the likely winner, and Jolinson as the unfortunate sacrifice to his superior skill. For it is all a matter of skill. It is not as though Wells were so hopelessly handicapped physically. Ho is a husky young fellow of 21 years of age. He is 6ft. 2in. in height, with a chest measurement of from 41in. to 4iiu., and 'weighs nearly 5 inches moro than Johnson's. In as can be^looked for. His reach is 79Jin., nearly 5 incres more than Johnson's. In addition he was before the present trouble universally acclaimed by the English sporting papers as the cleverest boxer which the heavy division has seen ior many a long year, and it was stated that ho was improving in strength and skill every day. Again it was stated that the JcJhnson whom lie is to meet—if lie is allowed to meet him—is not tho Johnson who fought at lieno in point of fitness. Tho champion landed in England under three months ago, weighing 18st. He has done no serious training—his music-hall engagements havo precluded that. , Ho has been worried by the illness of his wife—siick nearly to the point of death— and, gonorally, lie is probably less fit' to defend his title than he has been since to acquired it.

This, of course, is not a sporting way to 'look at the affair cither, but these factors all tend to lessen the 1 disparity between the men—if disparity there be, which no ono will know for sure until they meet. On the other hand there is Johnson's infinitely wider experience, and his giant strength, if ho can bring it to bear. But, even then, is no one to meet' the champion until lie acquires moro experience, and greater strength? If so, he can leave the ring at once—his work is done. The writer certainly shares the common opinion that Johnson would beat Wells, but why should this common opinion prevent' Wells from trying his luck? In the name of fair play, and for the sako of British sportsmanship, certainly not! Even "M.A.P." Lifts Its Voice. Although the situation had not grown so tenso when tho last English mail left, matters had reached a stage when pven journals whose interests lie quite apart from sporting matters, were taking a hand in the discussion. Even "M.A.P." has eomething to say, and a very sensible something it is, too: "Nothing, bar accidents, will prevent Jack Johnson fighting Bombardier Wells for the world's boxing championship at an early date, so why all this controversy and inlc-slinging on the part of. sporting journalists? "As the light is inevitable, surely tho best plan is to buck up the white man, and give him nil t'ho confidence possible. To deplore bis inexperience and skill, and prophesy dismal defeat for Weils, is icarcly a fit sendoff to a man who is shortly to fight the fight of hie career. "The lime for such Titicru will be after Ihe battle has been fought. As it is. Wells must have had much of the heart taken out of him by tho discouraging remarks of almost the en I ire ?[inrtiu'„' press. Let us have fair play and wait and see what "Wells can do when he meets Johnson before we lintlrer him in tliis unsporlmianlike m,inner." Tho Financial Side ef it. The fnlloirinjf from the "Sportsman" rhrows S'.iic light: on the financial side •'? the niidi-rt.it'ng:—"A member of 'The ■Miort'sman' had a short interview vith Mr. Jnmtv White, who is finding the' purse of „CSonn for the forthcoming contest between Johns'")!! and Wells. Mr. White, in spite of any and 'all opposition. is sanguine of the snores* of this, hi.s first venture in London. In the rouiwe if conversation he said: 'An impression has got abroad that Johnson is going to make a fortune nut of the match, because of his diajo of the pursa, pictures, and

A WEEKLY RECORD OF SPORTS AND OTHER PASTIMES.

The fact remains, however, that tho Yankee youth is capable of taking a tremendous amount of punishment without feeling any inconvenience. Heavy blows on tho jaw that would knock out any ordinary individual are not noticed, while body punches that would double up and render insensible nine ont of every ten strong fighters do not mark his skin. Lester's skin, by the way, is in keeping with his general make-up. It is tough, real tough. .It does not appear to possess any qualities out of the ordinary, but when caught between the fingers it is immediately noticed that it is about four times as thick as that of the average individual. "I reckon I'm about ths toughest man in the world," said Lester, when discussing tho subject. "I can take more punishmcmt than any other man living. I don't say this as a boast, but I guess I've learned it from experience. I've had over 30 'fights, and I'vo never been knocked out. Why, I've never been dazed. I don't know what it feels like. Of course, I. was hurt in my first fight witli Lang, but that wasn't ordinary pain. I got it on a nerve. But a punch or a fall has never hurt me. I suppose I've taken thousands of blows on my faco and body since I took lo boiing, but I can say honestly that not one has hurt me.

other things. As a matter of fact, Johnson docs not touch the pictures, exccpt in tho event of his being beaten. As a winner he will not take a penny piece; but if ho suffers defeat lie will bo entitled to 33 per cent. The pictures have been sold some time, and this is tho only _way in which they will bo affected by either of the boxers.' " Lester at the Stadium To-night. To-night, in Sydney, ".Tack" Lester is to be pitted against "gam" M'Vea, at tho Stadium. This will give us something really tangible to go on in reckoning Lester up. M'Vea is .generally looked upon as the "next best," and those of us who saw his living presentment in the recent M'Vea-Langford pictures havo a very good idea of his boxing ability—and it is ability of a very high order. It remains to be seen whether the Lester impetuosity and alleged imperviousness to pain will stand to him against the M'Vea footwork and the piston-like left that puzzled Langford so much in ■that drawn battle in Paris. It seems rather too much to hope for. If it does, however, and if the American boy can lower the redoubtable "Sam's" sablo colours, then his • claim to the big honour of a match with Johnson cannot be ignored, and there will bo something very special for the Australian public during the champion's visit. Apropos of Lester's insensibility to pain, this peculiar adjunct to his fighting kit is commented on in the Sydney "Sun," which says in an article on the 6iibjfct:—

"What do I attribute it to? Don't know. Of course, I've got a pretty heavy-looking jaw, but there doesn't seem to be anything unusual about it. All jaws look alike to me. Mine has never troubled mo. I can use it in the same ways as anybody else, and it sure stands to me well when I'm fighting. Strong about_ the body? Well, yes. I've got thick muscles, everywhere, and when I'm crouched' in the ring any punch that's sent to my body rests on muscles. Perhaps that explains why I don't fc?l them. Grunted on getting body punches in my last fight with Lang, did 1? Why, ' 1 don't know that, if you say so, I must have, but none of them hurt nie. • I've been told that Lang hit mo! . a good deal, but I didn't feel any of 1 his punches." The M'Vea Who is riot Scotch. M'Vca, who, despite his name, is not a Scotchman, and who is to havo the opportunity to-night to . test the . truth of the above assertions of Master "Jack" Tester, is 26 years of age, stands sft. lOlin. liigh, and" "weighs : 14st." 91b. So hie bas half an inch in height, and about a stone tho better of the deal.

f Ho has met Johnson three times, early lTi the champion's career, in February and October of 1903, and in April, 1901. On the first two occasions he lost on points over 20 rounds, and, on tho last, was knocked out in tho 'twentieth and last round. Since then he has spent most of his timo in Paris, and his last battle of im porta neo was the ono with Langford already referred to, which went 20 rounds and was declared a draw. According to present arrangements he is to meet Johnson in a championship match on Boxing Day. The favourite punch of Sam M'Vea is a left hook. The black says: "It is a daniaging blow. Lots of people will tell yon that it's easy to stop, but I generally find that mine gets there every time." ' Not quite always, apparently; just "generally always." j

Johnson is Coming to Australia. Apropos of Jack Johnson's visit to Australia, and its reported abandonment, Mr. H. D. M'lntosh. has issued tho following official bulletin on the matter:— "No reliance can bo placed on what appears in the London 'Sportsman.' Tlio National Sporting Club, of London, has shown marked hostility to me, and as the 'Sportsman' is its official organ, it is not surprising to hear of it publishing all sorts of flamboyant statements. Naturally it desires to keej Johnson in England, and in endeavouring to do so is not too particular as to tho soundness of its information.' As for .music-hall engagements causing the coloured champion to cancel his Australian tour, all I can say is that I arranged for all his contracts to be extended till he returns from Sydney. At all events, the Australian sporting public can rest assured that Johnson will be out here this season. He is to leave by the IJ.M.S. Orvieto, sailing from London on OctobeT 4. To guard against risk, I insured the famous boxer tor .65000 with Lloyds, and, as they hold his contract, it is certain that he will bo out hero to fulfil it. . It. has cost me 12! guineas per cent, on JJjOOO insurance, so that it would take something more than threatened injunctions to make him break Ins engagement with me. The only legitimate excuse would bo if he should become very ill." Hannan's Debut in the Limelight. "Mercury" had hoped to havo had a good deal to say of last week's great coutest in tho Town Hall, but the exigencies of space preclude more than a few remarks suggested by a backward glanco at the affair. The display was not so spectacular as the Hannan-Ivelly one. It lacked the fireworks of that bout, bu ; moro than made up for this in skilful and forceful tce-to-toe boxing. Starting quietly it worked up to one of the best exhibitions which the association has staged, and, up to the eleventh round, .he nitT"in o£ difference was teo small as to.be Sardlv noticeable —in fact, it. was so imperceptible to the great majority or he big spoctatorato that, to this day discussions still'rage as to which side it Tn °the twelfth' round Tracy mado his' big mistake. As he now acknowledges, Ifinst carried the fighting to Ilannan when the latter wanted it most, and well id the Australian avail himself of tho ihinifv This prror of Tims may not have 'lost him the verdict._ but it rertainlv put him in tho plight m which found himself in the fata last round v-li'-ii despite his best endeavour, ho CO .M not come up to time, ami so was counted out-not "knocked out, as has b TIV to "mix it" in the l u'H, >,ml thirteenth rounds, as he did, ca"" bo little doubt that ho co tl ld Wo seen tho journey out. As it was fn'i-pil Ml on the knock-out, and could he .™Mt -icro'S. Still, although this will {Jo'"no consolation to our late champion, ill ih remove tho ono blot from his nor ' 1 " perhaps as well that tho osc ; ltcl T °" n - 'it did It made the referee's t m L C "m e''isy one—which it would not have 'been' had tho full distance been covered.

Tho Referee Did Ric&t. Judging from, " r . rat . 0 oninion lis to the scoring up to lie last ZuT "'I 1 , Mr - ? am P fon cnnlit lu've - given would havo been an unpopular ono. This was inevitable from tho closeness of the contest, and it this unpleasant state ot atiaiis that "Tim's" liiiish obviated.

No consideration of this sort would have inlhieneed Mr. J>amp=on's judgment at all, but still it would have 'been discouraging lor him to havo had his first vcrdict in an important fixture servo as the signal for a hostile demonstration, lie handled tho afi'air exceedingly well, and kept the men under linn control without harrying thorn with objurgations and directions. In one matter ho had to think fast and act quickly—in that muehdiscussed incident where Ilannan's second broke tho rules by dashing water on him wliilo ho was taking the count. It was a-question of disqualification or not, and Mr. Sampson decided quickly and rightly. Ho would have been quite within his rights to have summarily ordered Hannan to his corner, and declared Tracy ilio winner, but tho punishment would have been too severe for the crime. As it was, ho hesitated not at all. lie straightway called a halt, severely admonished tho offending second, and sent (he boxers on their way again before half the audience knew what had happened.

"Tim" Tracy, Boxer and Sport. Tracy, as tho man most nearly concerned, upheld the referee's action in tho matter. Talking the matter over with the writer next day, he said that he would rather have lost tho contest than have won it 011 such a foul—which is exactly the sportsmanlike attitudo that 0110 expects Tracy to take, and is never disappointed. Already tho return match in Auckland 011 November 10 is being talked of. In "Mercury's" opinion it will be just such another keen battle as the last. Hannan will have tho moral effect of his win to help him over tho rough places, and Tracy will be all the better for his intermediate battles. Moreover, ho will have more faith in his mended arm. His long rest had lessened his speed somewhat on the last occasion—there were occasions tint he let slip that pointed to lack of sparring practice—a lack that his Gault and Murphy bouts will make up for by next time.

As for his damaged arm, he said afterwards that he did not feel it at all. Still it was obvious that it had not acquired its old-time sting. Ho scored heavily with his straight lefts, but they did not have the effect 011 his opponent that they should have had, either because of a muscular weakness from disuse, or because of an unconscious lack of confidence in sending the punch out from the shoulder. By November next this disability will have disappeared, and thero will be a treat, in store for tho Aucklanders. And Some Bouquets for Hannan. As for Hannan, he fought a clean and vigorous battle, aud greatly enhanced tho good impression which ho made 011 his first appearance. He is the type of boxer we want, and, as long as tho association can get that type, so long will the public conie.along to see it in action. Arthur Kelly badly wants a "return" match with Hannan. lie declares that ho will meet him for .CIOO, winner take all, or for .£6O and JC-10, and, if 110 loses, 110 engages to pay in the ,£lO to the controlling association. What could be fairer?