IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(Br "Meeooei.") SYDNEY TBIP FOE JOHNSON? To-day.—Sam M'Voa v. Bill Lang (Tho StatSum, Svdney). November 10.--N.Z. Light-weight Cham-pions-hip, Tracy v. Hannan (Auckland). November IL—Elliott v. Fitzjohn (Town Hall). November 30.—World' light-weight championship, Wolgast v. Welsh (San Framiseo). Johnson asid tho Landlady's China. Of John.-wns real intentions thero is yet no definite- word. Savo for the amusing cablo that tho champion had been sued by his landlady for breaking her china and furniture, and that, for once, his defence had proved penctrablo -ho was cast in damages—we havo hoard nothing. Exactly what reason tho cableman had for sending owl this nerve-shattering intelligence is not made manifest, unless it is that "small sins in Icings and champions aro great." But, at least, it does settle one point of doubt. Tho cablo was dated October 23, ;raid this proves that, despite Mr. H. D. MMntosh/s statement that Johnson had sailed for Australia with his bodyguard of sparring partners and string of motor-cara. nothing of the sort hai happened. He did not sail for Australia on October i, as provided for in his contract with MThtosh. Tho London "Sportsman," in mi issue just to hand, and dated the sscond week in September, says:—

Jack Jpluison has been threatened with law proceedings in connection with sevor.il niusio hall engagements ho has failed to fulfill hero in England. Inj&Rotions were to_ hare been applied for to-day restraining him from taking part "in his match of October 2 with Bombardier Wells, but we havo been informed that'the matter has been arranged, and will not bo taken into Cxmrt, Johnson having given an undertaking to fulfill his contracts after he lias met Uio Champion of England at Earl's Court. In •order to do so ho has decided to cancel his proposed trip to Australia,, for which part of the globe ho was to havo lett in the second week in October. Sydney Will Never See tho Champion. This is apparently the source of tho cablegram that was contradicted by Air. JJ'lntosh, and, although events proved it to bo wrong, lis regards the settlement of the diflionlr.ies in connection with tho Wells match, it now appears that tho section referring to the cancellation of Johnson's torn- is very near the truth. Tli* reticence of tho Australian sporting papers on tho subject soems to bear out this contention, since Mr. M'lntosh's statement— that he had the champion too tightly bound by his agreement to admit of any side-stepping—he lias been discreetly silent. The- promoter mustknow how icixiously the sporting public is wanting to know whether or not Johnson is going out to Australia to meet M'Vea and his other black brothor-in-arms, Langiord. It is only reasonable to suppose that he would give a positive assurance if ho woto to do so. This ho hasnot done. Well, can. he ? The writer thinks not. It seams safe to assumo that Johnson has turned M'lntcsh down. For that reason the future. "Johnson v. M'Vea for the championship of the world, on December 2G," has been removed from the schedule at tho head of this column. Further Word From London on Wells. Apropos Johnson. English files to hand show that tho match with Wells was being taken seriously at Home, as a .championtiiip fixture, however lightly it was treated elsewhere. Tho shadow of tho cloud that eventually blotted out tho fixture was just beginning to uinko its presence felt when the sporting papers, running up to tho middle of September, left England. Then, howover, it was in tho air "no larger 'than a man's hand"; it was not being looked upon in tho light of an actual deterrent. Tho training of both pricipals was boing given a good deal of space, and, from the accounts, tho preparatory work of Wells was making a very good impression indeed. Of an exhibition "try out" "Boxing" says:— Bombardier "Billy" Wells maclo somo of his critics sit lip and tako a wholo lot of notico last Thursday at Earl's Court. There were several Americans present, men who had never seen Wells before, and only know of him as a man of whom certain of his own countrymen said his chance of suceoss simply didn't exist. Consequently they sat down fully prepared to seo a "boob," as they deascribe that sort of article across tho Atlantic. They went away freely asserting that Wells could easily beat any white man in America, and that ho was clearly a man who, with a fair sharo of experience, could be relied upon to give Johnson a wnolo heap of trouble. Tho Bombsrdier Might Not Havo Been "Easy." The articlo winds up with a comment on what terms "a significant change in tho betting'' as ono of tho results of the Bombardier's showing. "Boxing," by the way, was ono of tho.papers that, at tho outset, made no secret of its disapproval Df tho match. That makes tho above comment tho moro interesting. Then tho J.iondon "Sportsman," too, spoko highly of the English champion's work, and gave him more than an outsido chance of victory. It remarked that Wolls would have entered tho ring at list. 71b., which, with his undoubted cleverness and hard punch, would mako him no mean antagonist for anyone. Johnson Was Leaving Nothing to Chance. From tho Toports, Johnson, too, was buckling dovru to work in Pari9 in a far more serious fashion than wns generally imagined. The Pons correspondent of tho "Sportsman," writing under thrco weeks before the proposed match, said:— "Jack" Johnson completed a strenuous week's work hero last night, and to-day entered upon another, which promises even to be of a severer description. The champion's appearance testifies to tho effective training ' he is underlain;. He has unburdened himself of tho greater quantity _ of adipose, which was only too manifest when he arrived in Paris; ho has developed greater speed and stamina, and, according to those who have seen him at his best, he will require little polishing at the end of another nino or ten days to enter tho ring to face Wells as "fit as ho was for either Burns or Jeffries. Moreover, he is quito satisfied with tho progress, of his form, and is determined to leave nothing to chance on October 2. Tho fact is Johnson holds no mean opinion of tho Englishman's capabilities, despite inferences in some quarters that it will 1m all plain sailing and a short journey. The coloured boxer is putting his title at stake. Ho is too cxporionc«d and shrowd to be decoyed by statements that Wells is not 'of his class, and prefers to exercise his own judgment on a subject which is of some moment to himself. And so, whatever be tho potentialities or otherwise of the case, at present wo must judge the fight on its merits, and wait till then. The work has been thorough, and warmly appreciated. _ To-day ho gavo an additional seance in tho afternoon, and boxed a few rounds with JJenri Piet, a French champion, who met with considerable success in tho United States last year. His partners, it may be mentioned, aro having a hard.time as ho improves. Cutler's face is swollen in several places through blows, and Armstrong received a nasty cut on the lip to-night. After each seance, Johnson undergoes a long process of massage treatment. So Why Was It All Stopped? Ali this is ancient history now, but so much has been written and said about the alleged "crass absurdity of tho wholo affair" that ono i 3 glad to be able to show a little of the other side of tho case. It is too lato to do anythiug but conjecture, but,- on reflection, • one doea

wonder whether, from a sporting standpoint, the match was as farcical as was l alleged At tho time "Mercury" gave his humble opinion that it was not, and now that tho exports' opinions tire available, it really does seem that the John-son-Wells match was not ono whit more ono-sided than plenty of others to which no oxception has been taken. For instance, tho offering np of "Bill" Lang to "Sain" M'Vca in Sydney this day by tho Stadium management. On paper could any match bo more of a foregono conclusion? Could there be any moro flagrant serving up of a whilo man to act as a black man's punching bag than this? At least on paper. Can one imagino a moro impudent attempt to "work" a long-suffering public than tho forcing upon it of an exhibition liko this one should be—on paper? And, finally, is there one man in Australia—not excepting "Bill" Lang himself—who gives the white man tho remotest chance of winning? To all of which one can safely answer: No. At least, going on paper. Yet "paper" was all thero was to go on in tho Johnson-Wells case. Now where is the howl of protest from White Australia on tho racial issue—to say nothing of tho inhumanity of tho proceeding; the unfairness of it, in fact tho whole crass absurdity of it, either as an athletic spectacle or an exhibition of boxing? Once again one asks: Whero? And Echo using a vulgar Americanism answers: "You can search me!" Ono of M'Yea's Entourage. "Bandsman" Rice, M'Yoa's English sparring partner, made his bow to an Australian audience at the Stadium last Saturday week, and emerged an easy victor over "Jack" Howard. Tho manner in which tho disturbance affected the "Bulletin's" boxing writer is set forth as under:—Rice claims tho title of lightheavy champion of England (limit 12st.), and Howard's chief claim to distinction lies in tho fact that he was recently well beaten by "Dave" Smith.

"Bandsman" llice, light heavyweight and a "towny" of Gcorgo Rex, celebrated his recent arrival in this country by cordially belting a local resident named "Jack" Howard on Saturday night, at Kushcutter's Bay. Eico was above Howard's class altogether, and, but for a desire to make a show of the local man, or bad ringcraft, he could have finished the business in half the time he.actually took over it. There was nothing in tho light, or whatever it was, after tho fifth round, that called for more than sustained pressure upon an opening. But Bice allowed chance after chance to go untaken, even with his seconds pleading with him to "follow up." in the 10th round ho did follow up, after landing Howard a thunderous smit*, and the. beginning of next rour.d was the end. Howard's seconds reluctantly (lew tho towel to save a knock-out. Hsward was a sad, sad representative of this land of mountain' solitude, sun-kissed politicians, and other groat natural resources. He fouukt with cow-liko intelligence along tho lines of the pareels-mail system, each of the dispatches being telegraphed well in advance. After the fifth round, few of them reached their intended destination. Argument between this Britan and "Dave" Smith was set down for November 4, but the Maorilander has found it necessary to undergo a slight operation .for some leg trouble, which may necessitate a readjustment of dates. What is Burnc Really Out For? The following cablegram appeared in a recent Sydney "Sun":— Fanning Island, Sunday. Tommy Burns, who is bound for Sydney by the R.M.S. Makura, threatens to return to tho ring. Tho ex-world's champion is anxious for another meeting with Jack Johnson, but he does not want a long-distanco battle. Ho nsks that tho present titlo holder should meet hira iu a 10-round bout, and stipulates for a clean break. A wireless messago has been sent by Burns from the Makura' to "Tex" Kickard, the well-known American fight promoter, who is in Buenos Ayres, asking him for tho best offer he is prepared to make for the fixture. At first glance this looks like a not altogether unsuccessful attempt to be humorous on the part of the cable man at Fanning Island, but, on his arrival at Auckland early in the week, Burns himself gravely assured the inevitable interviewer that lis actually hoped for another meeting with Johnson on the terms indicated. The only comment that appears to be necessary is that friend Thomas must hav* entirely lost his sense of the pr»j»rti»a at' thisjs. N» Longer High Priest of In-Fighting. Tho oddest part of the conditions which he stipulates is the "clean break" clause. This is a change of front indeed for Burns, who was wont to consider himself the father of modern in-fighting, and who beat nearly all his men by his cleverness in "holds" and in the "break away." Fighting with a clean break, Burns could not put a glove on Johnson—could not, to use the vernacular, "hit him with a handful of shot. "Tommy," ever tho showman, . means people to know ho is once more with us, and this is his dramatic entrance.. It is rather a coincidence that, together with "Tommy's" arrival and defiance, comes tho news from America that a settlement has been arrived at of his case against the Puget Sound Electric Knilway Company. This was an action brought by Burns for compensation for injury to his legs in a train accidentinjuries which ho stated at tho time had finished his boxing career for good. American files show that Burns has accepted 1500 dollars in full settlement, and the case was settled out of court. What a curious world it is, my masters? Clashes Nearer Home, No collisions have occurred within our shores since last Saturday's chronicling. The only one immediately pending is Kelly v. Murphy. This is set down for Monday, at Dunedin. But interest will thicken presently. On November 10, at Auckland, Hanuan and Tracy aro to come together, and to thump a certain amount of conviotiou and "sweet reasonableness" into each other. Light-weight laurels also go with the thumping, and tho battle will no doubt lie conducted on tho principle that it is "moro blessed to givo than to receive." Etch then, the settlement may be only a temporary one. If Hannan half-maststho Tracy gonfalon n.'«in, he can hold 'the championship only so lonj as he slays with us. When he loaves for the littlo farm at West Maitland, tho crown drops off his head, and reTcrts to—whom? Not to Tracy, for, sine/ being despoiled by the Maitland enfant terrible, tho ex-champion has been be*U«n by Gault. Gault,_ however, has hud the s'hern rubbed off his claim by his defeat at tho hands cf Arthnr Kelly. Also the chs.'aces are that, by the time all this has come to pats, Kelly also will have sailed away for fresh fights in Sydney. Who remain, then? Only the two New Zenknders—Gault and Tracy, and this is the affair which the Wellington Association proposes to stage at the end of November or early in December. But this is not all. Sandwiched in between those two engagements is to come the picce-do-resistance of the whole season —the local association's chef-d'oeuvre, so to speak. This is tho Elliott—Fitzjohn clash at tho Town Hall on Tuesday, Novomber 14. For this engagement these two brilliant little boxers are to leave Sydnoy to-day week, and both can bo assured of a hearty welcome on their arrival in this, th» land of their former triumphs.

Last Saturday "Hock" Keys was to have made his onslaught on the lightweight championship of Australia, which, some years ago, he held with such distinction, and which now is so securely held by Ilugh Jfehegan. _ If Keys managed to break the conventions, and "como back," the bout must have been a merry one, for the "Hock" of old—tho "Hock" wo saw in action on that memorable occasion at the local Opera Rouse—was one of the cleverest light-weights that ever Australia saw, second only to "Griffo tho Incomparable," while Mohegan is likewise "ono of best." The news of the of this fixture is being looked for with much interest in town.