IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 12

IN THE RING.

nOW TUB WIDE WORLD WAGS. (Bi "MEKCCRT,") October 28.*—M'Vea v. Lang (Stadium, Sydney). World's Light-Weight Championship, Wolgast v. Wells. November 10.— N.Z. Light-weight Championship, Tracy v. llnnnan (Auckland). November 11.—Elliott v. Fitzjohn (Town Hall). Nov. —.—Hannan v. Gault (Town nail). December 20.—World's Championship, Johnson v. M'Vea (Sydney). Wellington.—Matches Ahead. During the week our own association lias l>een busy, and—with results. When the bottom tumbled out of "Fitzjohn v. Hill," wo had to hunt for a substitute for Hill, who is now in considerable disgrnco. On Monday the cable brought tho glad announcement that Elliott had stepped in to tho breach, and, by Wednesday's mail, came a confirmatory letter from Mr. W. F. Corbett. So now the association is in tho fortunate position of having engaged two boxers who are, beyond doubt, tho eleverest "feathers" in New South Wales. They will bo seen at the Town Hall on November 14. 111 tho past tho association lias staged good matches—this season it has done excellently well in this respect—but the fixture under notice can, in all reason, be expected to dull tho sheen of all previous ventures. Thoso who saw Elliott in action against Godfrey at the Opera Houso over 15 rounds, and, previously, against this same Frank Fitzjohn (both amateurs then) will know what to expect. Another fixture has also been arranged by the association—Hannan meets "Alf" Gault. The date has not yet been inked, but it will be 011 about November 30. The match hinges a little on the outcome of the Ilannan-Tracy conflict at Aucklnnd on .November 10. In tho articles (still to be signed) a clause has been inserted enacting that the association reserves the right to cancel the affair should either of the principals be defeated in tho meantime. So, should Tracy turn tho tables on Hannan in Auckland, it may fall through, or, porhaps, "Tim" will be substituted for Hannan. The question whether Hannan's opponent for this disturbance bo Gault or Kelly provoked some discussion, owing to Gault's .defeat in Blenheim last week. Beports, however, show plainly that the Aucklandcr was unlucky, as tho foul upon which tho decision asain.lt him was given was a very venial offence, and he had a clearcut lead on points at tho time. After considering the affair from nil angles, the association fuod upon Gault. By Wednesday's mail an application came from Frank O'Grndy, tlio wellknown Sydney light-weight, for a match in Wellington with Hannan, but. as it lias bwn practically decided to closo tho reason with tho Ilannan-Gault contest, it ii unlikely that anything will bo done in the matter. America.—Wolgast Tracked Down. Word was received in Sydney last.week by cablo that, after months of _ more or less patient waiting, "M:.<t" Wells, the English light-weight champion, who has been sweeping all beforo him in the States, had at last been successful in inducing "Ad" Wolgast, tho woild's champion in his class, to meet him. W T ells was naturally very jwrturbed at the champion's action in ignoring his claims for a championship match and signing on with "Freddy" Welsh, and has since given th» champion no rest. The present engagement is apparently tho outcome of his perseverance, and. although it is only a ten-round affair, it will servo to show exactly how tho littlo Englishman stands in tho championship class. It is dated for November 28, and the locale is Now Tork. Meanwhile the Wolgast-Welsh affair, with the big title at stake, still stands for November 30, despite tho fact that Welsh wan dtwwd from his English championship standing by Wells. Under tlio circumstances tho latter's eagerness is comprehensible. Another American item of intorest is that "Knock-out" Brown, the New York liglit-wcigh'fc, who is also hot-foot on Wolgasfs trail, battled out au eight-round draw last Monday week with Harry Lewis, the wall-known middle-weight. It rfclly rsads like a good performance on the part of alentino Braun, that croeo-eyt-d German terror, whom press and public have christened "Knock-out" Brown. London—What doss Johnson Mean? The ways of "Jack" Johnson certainly pars all human understanding. We were led to believe, by reported utterances of I\lr. IT. D. M'lntwh in Sydney, that tho champion was under heavy bond to meet "Sam ' M'Vea at the Stadium on Boxing Day, and that he had already sailed from England for that purpose. A cable mescogo (shortly after the British public had commanded him not to hurt Wells) stated positively that he had sailed for Australia with a big entourago of sparring partners, motor-cars, diamonds, etc. Now comes tho intelligence that the champion considers that he lias "fought the good fight," and intends to quit. A cable received bv tho Sydney "Sun" dated Tuesday week runs:— Johnson and Bombardier Wells are appearing at tho West End ninsio halls and drawing large crowds. The world's champion is still complaining bitterly of the change in the attitude ' of the English people towards him, and reiterates his statement that 110 will resign. "When I give up the Ting," said Johnson, "I will watch five or six good men fight for the championship. I would liko to referee those contests." j Now, what in tho name of tlio sun, moon, and sars, and the cosmogony iu toto, is Johnso-n going to do? Sydney.—Smith's Alleged New Punch. Last Saturday in Sydney "Bandsman" Kico was to have met "Jack" Howard, "Dave" Smith's recent victim. Eice is an English "light-heavy" with a big reputation, and i,s "Sam" M'Vea's sparring partner. Howard should provo a good initial "try-out" for him, and should give somo indication of the Englishman's chances against "Davo" Smith, of "ours," whom he meets next. From accounts of tho now Smith—the Smith with "the punch"—he will need to bo pretty good, for, apparently, the Dunodin representative is shaping as he never did before, which is saying something. Thus a Sydney person on Smith:— With hia additional asset—the dream dope—"Davo" Smith should 1» about tho most troublesome proposition above ground for the world's boxers outside the front-rank heavyweights. Tlio Ijoxer-btisriness man is 110 longer a middle-weight, and 'will never attempt to make middle-weight again if ho is wise, hut in his present form it is unlikely that 110 would prove easy meat for even tho real heavy-weights. Just now ho is fighting with more confidcnce than ever beforo. Tho suggestion of fear to take a punch has gone overboard with liis transformation, and ho stands now m the first flight of tho world's light-hoavy-weights. A more dashing fighter than the Smith who jent "Jack" Howard down to defeat in nine rounds on the Sydney SpoTts Ground would bo hard to'imagine. As ho was giving awav weight, and was against a man with a punch, it was thought generally that: if ho saw out tho twenty rounds and gained a points decision lie would bo doing well. But ho en.mo to light iu a paralysing manner, and with tho greatest case secured the honours. He had floored Howard several times, ' and must lmve won 011 a knock-out had not tho police interfered. Sydney and Mehegan, To-night, in Sydney, Hugh Mohcan is to meet another snatch at his championship crown. This time tho aggressor is to he our old friend "Hock" Keys—Kevs the resuscitated. This will be tho first of the championship matches for tho M'lntosh belt, which has to bo won throe times before it becomes "absolute," and 011 each occasion his opponent has to bo approved by the donor. Which is another way of saying that all matches in which tlio championship licit is involved are to be staged bv Mr. H. D. M'intosh. Sydney and "Bill" Rudd. "Bill" Ktidd's first essay in rc-illy big company appears to have been a somewfyit mixed affair. Hp was marched

ngainst "J'anji" Burns by the new pre moling body at tho Sydney Spoils Ground, and tho struggle was short, but decidedly sensational. The ox-Wellingtonian was giving away two stone in weight lo a man with a big reputation, and, in the early stages of the first round, looked like paying the penalty of his rashness, lie was out-pointed nnd Diit-pumiied, and looked a sure loser. Then Burns left ; an opening, and tho much-battered Hmld ' got through it, and, mud', to '.lie astonishment of the beholders, nou'ii went ■ Burns. He got up groggily, only to be sent down again—this time for tho count, and liudd was returned the winner. Dono and won in one round! It does not do _to be careless with a mail with a punch like Kmhi's. No doubt Burns lealiscs this now. Rudd—A Man with a Pait. Riuld's performances are by a Sydney paper as under, and make quite a "respectable list, nnd the jruportion of "IC.O.'s" is very formidable—thus: F. M. Malone.v, Otago. two rounds, k.0.; J. Williams, Wellington, three 1 rounds, k.0.; D. Maloney, Jilw.lieim, one round, p.s.; J. Mackie, Wellington, .wo rounds, st.; H. I'earsan, Wellington, two rounds, k.0.; G. Devitt, Blenrteim, one round, k.0.; S. Pearse, Blenheim, three rounds, k.0.; D. Maloncy, Nelson, two rounds, k.0.; M. liyan, Wellington, throe rounds, k.0.; P. Itushton, Otago, tlirco rounds, k. o.; H. Sandow, Bastings, seven rounds, k.0.; 31. Andrews, Sydney, three rounds, st.; J. Mitchell, Westport, one round, k.0.; J. Mitchell, llastings, threo rounds, k.0.; A. I.eckie, Wellington, four rounds, st.; 11. Richards, Wellington, two rounds, k.0.; A. Thompson, Blenheim, threo rounds, k.0.; J. Blackmore, one round, l.f. ; ,T. Jerome, Sydney, seven rounds, k.0.; J. Costa, Sydney, 20 rounds, 1.; J. Blackmore, Sydney, two rounds, k.0.; T. Whiting, Brisbane, nine rounds, p.s.; J. Maloney, Sydney, two rounds, k.o.