IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 12

IN THE RING.

(Br "Mxectbt.") CHAMPIONS LIGHT AND HEAVY. December 26.—World's Championship, M'Veo v. Langford (Sydney). Wolrjast Suddenly Struck Down. That much-discussed battle for the lightweight championship of tho world, which was to have taken place in San Francisco between tho holder of tho title, Ad Wolgast, and "Freddie" Wolsh, tho English ex-champion, on the 30th of last month, did not occur after all. The reason was that the champion was attacked and "outed" by anothor antagonist, the result of tho bout being that he has been forbidden to engage in any pugilistic enterprise for at least three months. This set-back, by the way, was not due to any human agency. Wolgast'B conqueror was that fearsome "in-lighter" appendicitis. Judging from tho cable the discovery was not made until the day of the projected battle, and tho sudden postponement at the eleventh hour must have meant,a big financial loss to the promoter, as, apparently, a new arena had been built, and all preparations for handling an immenso crowd. ;

To Welsh ilso it must have been particularly galling. This match had been tho dream of his life, and he had waited in America for it for months. No doubt the deposited portion of tho stake money became forfeit to him on Wolgasf s failure, to come up to time, but this would bo. but small compensation for the loss of a chance at the big title, which, from all accounts, he was confident of taking back to England with him.

.The Disappointment of It. To tie public in general, and to the English section thereof in particular, the abandonment of tho. match would also prove a bitter disappointment. The contest had been so long in the making, and the English boxer's persistency so dogged iu nailing down Wolgast that English interest had been thoroughly aroused. It

was jnstly thought that the title—originally torn from "Dick" Burge fifteen years ago by the first American to Hold it, "Kid" Laviguc—was in a fair way to return to England. Wolgast's illness Trill mean that the- light-weight discussion will have to drop entirely for three months, or until such time as the champion is ready to talk business again. The delay will mean the loss of thousands of dollars to Wolgast, .and much feverish discussion among the light-weights next in order for the title—Welsh, Wells, "Knock-out" Browu and Co.

The suddenness of Wolgasf s attack is evidenced by the following cables which were received in Sydney on two successive days :— San Francisco, November 29. Great interest is being manifested in tho forthcoming Wolgast-Welsh fight. Wolgast is confident of success, and the odds are greatly in his favour. ' Los Angeics, November 30. Wolgast has been suddenly stricken with appendicitis. He was taken to tho hospital in the middle of the nightin consequence of an ncnto attack. Ho has been successfully operated upon, and the doctors predict a rapid recovery. Ho has, however,- been warned not to fight within 90 days; therefore his match with Welsh has been abandoned. i

The World's Championship, Both combatants for the big affray on Boxing Day aro hard at work in Sydney preparing for this, tho biggest battle of their careers. Just exactly what weight will be attached to the claim that the contest is for world's premiership honours remains to be seen although, .morally and legally, M'Vea's claim to the honour will be. sound the moment he Rulers the ring anil finds .Tack Johnson "absent without leave."' Whether it will bo aa sound when ho leaves tho arena is another story. There can- bo no question that Johnson's failure lo keep to the articles which ho signed renders his title liable to forfeiture, but past experience has proved that the annexing of -a world's title by default has never been a couclusive method of acquiring tho honour. As long aa Johnson is alive, and' in any way connected with the ring ho will b? a shadow dimmi ug the lustre of tho honour. In any case, however good M'Vea's claim is, his position on Boxing Day will be a peculiar oho. Ho will not enter into possession of the title until he enters tho ring, for Johnson will not have actually forfeited until that time. If ho wins he. will certainly enhanco his standing nn f. claimant, but if he is beaten, ho will have held the title only from tho start of tho battle until the moment qf defeat—surely tho shortest championship tenure of office on record?

What to Win? Langford?' M'Vea? Apropos of this combat a "Bulletin" correspondent ventures a prophesy. Ho writes:— I see.that Langford told the Maoriland_ reporters that referee "Eugene Corri should have declared his last fight with M'Voa a win instead of a draw, and that on Boxing Day he pro- . poses to completely exterminate the I'rido of i'aris. The odds arc that, far,from exterminating M'Vea, Langford will get licked on the 20th. Consider the circumstances. Langford depends for success mainly' on his amazing punch and his capacity to standstill and fako puuishmeul. (He hns a theory that ;i boxer's hands and arms are meant for hitting purposes aloue, and, accordingly, ho does not even attempt to take punchfs on tho gloves or arms.) In IVris tho two champions fought in a liuiall, primitive ring, with small, primitive gloves. On Boxing Day they will battle in a 20-foot enclosure, floor covered aud padded as to the supports which hold tho ropes. And they will use big gloves Obviously, the change will bo all in M Vea s favour. If Langford couldn't put M'Vea out with the punishing little • gloves that arc used abroad, he is unlikely to damage him much with tho pillow-like Affairs that New South Wales insists on. Of course, one of Langford's terrific smites mav land fairly, in which cose it is ail over with M'Vea. But mainly it looks like being a boxing contest, and in the matter of boxing ability, M'Vea is admittedly the smaller coon's master every time.

The Lester-Squires Outrage. The Lester-Squires outrage is not to be perpetrated in Brisbane utter all-for which everyone interested in the sport n<= V porl "", l l 1 fi t l l ' s a . le .,ver for prizing wealth oft .a gullible and long-suffering publicwill 1)0 truly thankful. The making of tins match was one of the worst' of the lew somewhat doubtful pugilistic propositions that the Australian public has ***'{ il 0 ? 1 «-i 1> of late, and it was a deal that could not fail to brin" the sport into dispute. ° h3m V arr ? i! 'f-°»t °f °ne such "exhibition I (save the mark) would do more to injure the sport than months of Little Bethel oratory and, if this side of the question does not appeal to those rospons!,f ''TM* al '°,, tho sfor ? " f tho goose that lawl Hie golden eggs that hni an equal npp ication from another viewpoint Anyhow "Bill" Squires's illness has set! tied matters and the result of the abandonment of his fixture led to the brining forward of the LeFtcr-M'Voa 10 round contest, which should havo taken place at Brisbane last Saturday. Of the result of it we have heard nothing Other fixture,? of noto in Australia wh ™. ft 6 ™! 1 lc/t *«• "J«ck"'Read v, "Sid" Sullivan last Saturday, Frank Pioato v. Mark Higginson on Wednesday n J ßht .i n V,i fo - n , 1 8 , , t >. t , he mos t interesting of all, "Dave" Smith, of "ours," y Jimmy Clabby, of tho U.S.A.

Again "Bill" Rudd. -n 1 ? 1 !." ?J-' I { 1 hn<l ,S° tro " ble inth Dutch nickman. The "Referee" report of tho encounter says:— *;A boxing contest for the heavyweight championship of the South Coast took place on Snturdav afternoon at the Now Stadium, between 'Dutch' Hickman, of Figtre'e and 'Bill' Rudd. From the word go the lighting was severe, arid in the first half of the first round Hickman was floored by a left hook. He took B;cc, and when he rose lo his feet Rudd commenced mixing matters, and just on tho call of the bell Hickman wont to the floor before a welldolivered straight right, and was counted out."

The Progress of Russell. "Joo" Unssoll, tho Australian featherweight champion was married on Wednesday. His next "ring" appoaranoo will lxi at tho end of January, when ho intends going up a olass in weight owing to his cvor-incroasing difficulty in making tho "feather" limit. Ho is to meet no less an antagonist than, "Hughie" Mchcgan, tho lig)i I-weight champion, whom, however,' hp is binding down to Dst. 71b. If Russell is leaving tho "feather" division tor good, it is probable that his manlJo will fall upon Frank FiUjohn, our lato visitor.

Small Paean on "Tim." Coming to local matters, congratulations are extended to "Tim" Tracy on his victory over Arthur Kelly at Millerton last Saturday night. There appears to have been but littlo margin between tho combatants, but the fact that Tracy won on points speaks well of his boxing; form. It was generally supposed that if he beat Kelly it would be through strength and solidity. That he out-boxed him, as well as out-fought him, shows that his "come back" against Jlannan in Auckland was no flash in. the pan. On Monday, "Tim" meets. Gault at Auckland, and will be somewhat the worso for wear through travelling. To box a hard fifteen-rounds contest and got through from Millerton to Auckland for another bout, all in nine days, is a solid contract foT anyone, and leaves very little leisure for training in botwoeh. For this reason the local champion cannot expect to bo at his best. Still ho is evidently in a winning vein, and we will hope that fortune will still stand to him. If it does, "Tim" will have wiped out the early disasters of the season, and will be back again secure in his old position at the top of the lightweight heap.

Too Ambitious. Melbourne exchanges show that "Gus" Devitf s latest venture was too ambitions. •One account states.— "Gus" Devitt (list, lib.) and "Ted" Whiting (list, lib.) tried conclusions at the Melbourne Athletic Club for the middle-weight championship of Victoria. Devitt did not box up to expectations, while Whiting was-never seen in better form. The Victorian looked all. over a winner from tho shake hands. Devitt landed one really good punch, and that an u'ppereut, in the eleventh round. This nettled Whiting, and, lashing out with the right, he opened Devitfs eye. Soon the visitor's vision was . obscured, and ho was so well beaten during tho twolfth round that his seconds skied tho towel.

Offered Up ori the Clabby Altar. At the Stadium, Sydney, on tho night of last Wednesday week, "Jimmy" Clabhy was opposed to "Tim"-Land, with results reported by the "Sydney Morning Herald" thus:—

After having all the best of the contest, "Jimmy' Clabby, tho American welter-weight boxer, had "Tim" Land so outclassed half way through the tenth round of their contest at the Stadium that the decision was awarded him there and then. From the outset Clabby was more than a match for Land, both in speed and in hitting power, and, although Land made several attempts to stem the tide, ho met with little success, and was most of his time on tho defensive. Tho men met at catch weights.

Boxing Gloves in all finalities. Punch Balls and Extras. Physical Exercises of various makes, at Denton's, 5S Willis Street.—Advt.