IN THE RING

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING

[Bi "MEnounr."] ONFALL OF WILLIAM RUDD. September 10.—Hegarty v. Burns, Opera House. October 2.—Truscott v. Murphy, Town Hall. He Puts the Wise Ones to Blush. Three cheers and a tiger! First blood has fallen to tho Australians in the boxing "inieriintimiiils" now in session nt the Sydney SUidinni, and that through the agency of a Now Zoaliindcr—to wit, "Bill" Kudd. It was an unexpected victory at that, as the Australian representative was merely a hopo of tho forlorn order. Tho honour of carrying tho Australian banner was thrust upon him for the simple reason that there was no other gladiator at the weight available, and how his chances wero weighed up with those of his opponent, Ernest Zanders, of the W.S.A., may be judged by tho fact that the latter started a 5 to 1 favourit, ringside How Rudd put the wiso ones to the blush is told in full in the Australian papers, and from these varied accounts the "Bulletin's" report is selected and appended as being tho most graphic. His Dealings with a Citizen of tho United States. It seems, however, that the affair possessed many peculiar features apart from its unexpected outcome. For instance, it was a battle in which the American was beaten by the assault-and-battory methods which his compatriots have mado peculiarly their own. Again, Zander's ordeal was unique—if painful. He suffered the experience of being knocked out twice within three rounds, and then escaped without having a knock-out recorded against him. In the first of these direful episodes ho was saved by tho gong on the count "three," On the 6eco'nd he remained standing, but "out"—propped up by the ropes in his corner, into which Rudd had forced him before administering the anaesthetic. At this stago the referee stopped the contest. ,

He Begins on thai Citizen—Round One. However, let the "Bulletin" (ell the story—and note tho reference to the "Australian" victor. Would lio not have been a New Zealander hail he justified expectations, and been soundly trounced? Wo wonder. Before he went into the ring Rudd was warned that he was about to go up against something extra special— a man with a great reputation. Rudd's remarks about great reputations wore beastly straight, and when he got into the ring he showed he had no respect whatever for the goods. Hβ went for that Yankee like a wild cat. The Yankee sought to box him —and for a time did it. Hβ outpointed Rudd and smote him generously. But the Australian merely shook his head, crowded in close, and showered his blows so fast that to block them was impossible. 'The gong saw Zanders ahead—on points. But he was a badly battered U.S.A. citizen, and sadly.blown with tho pace. "Stand off, and box him!" said Zander's mentors, as he rose from his chair. Round Two—The American "Too Full for Words." , If he had been given time Zanders would, no doubt, have asked how one could stand off a cyclone like that. But there was no time. Rudd was already off tho ground, and up in tho atmosphere, and before he struck the floor he sent in six blows—every one a possible knock-out. Again Zanders tried to box. Ho guarded beautifully. Rudd beat down his guard with one hand, and smote him twice simultaneously w.ith both fists—at least, that is what it looked like. Zanders tried to glide away. Hudd crowded after him, hitting with all , six fists all the time. Getting right on top of Zanders he hit him with Zi hands. Zanders epua round, pirouetting liko a ballet maiden, and thun fell. The referee was counting him out when the gong went, and saved him for an even worse fate—to.be. made a show of. Twice he tried to rise, and failed, and his seconds dragged him to his corner and strove to get him round. "You ain't hilf licked yet, Ern!" said one second. Evn did not raply. Probably he was too full for words.

Round Three, and Curtain. . . In the third round Rudd struck *Mr. Zanders with everything at once, and, in a manner of speaking, threw him away. Only the ropes held him up. Rudd waved all his tentacles for ft knock-out. "Don't hit him!" yelled referee Scott; and the clamour ended with the Australian a winner. It was a remarkable fight. Although Zanders was quite beaten, it does not count as a knock-out, because the foreign gentleman was on his feet to the last. If Rudd would only take care of himself and settle down to learn boxing, he would; in the opinion of the best judges and this writer, be,a world champion middle-weight. Rudd One of Our Own Exports, So it all seenls to come to this: Rudd may now be fairly termed the best of the Australian middles. That, in turn, gives rise to the reflection that it appears to be Now Zealand's portion to keep up the supply of "middles", across the Tasman. Not to go so far back as theVdays of "Bob' I'itzsimmons, there have been Otto Cribb, "■Tim" Griffin, "Dave"' Smith, and now— "Bill" Rudd. The Pursuit of Johnson. "Jack" Johnson's intentions regarding his Australian tour are still wrapped in mystery. The elusivo champion (as far as can 1)0 gathered by the contradicting cablegrams) declines to commit himselt as to his movements, but Mr. M'lnlosh evidently still lives in hopes of nailing him down to his agreement, and, to this end, has sent a plenipotentiary to the States in the person of Mr. W. C. J. Kelly (a well-known sporting identity in ,Sydnev) to bring out Johnson apparently dead or alive. Of •Mγ. Kelly's mission tho "Sun" says:— "I'll bring Johnson and Jeanctte back ■ if I have to carry one uiidcr each arm down to the wharf." Thus Mr. W. C. J. Kelly yesterday before sailing on tho Ventura for America, where ho will make strenuous efforts to induce Jack Johnson and Jeanette to pack their trunks and tako boat for AusAlth'ough the task Mr. M'lntosh has set him is not an easy one by any means, Mr. Kelly, talking prior to the departure of the boat, took an optimistic view of matters, and said that it would not be his fault if he did not 1 bring the two coloured heavy-weights to realise that it would be to their advantage to keep their contracts with the Sydney promoter. Apant from his Johnson-Jeanette mis- ■ sion. Mr. Kelly has l>een given power by Mr. M'lntosh to gather in any other likely fighters ho comes across, and bundle them off to Australia. "If you hoar of me havine to charter a special steamer to pond the boxers out, don't bo surprised." said W.C..T. jokingly, as ho went aboard the boat.

Our Own Arrangements. Things locally "'i-'.i regard to coining matches have, now reached a definite stage, and wo pro aesnml of at least two good fixtures for the present and the coming month. The first of theso is set down for September Ifl, at the Opera House, the participants bcimr J. JTflgarly. of Timarn. tho Dominion's champion "feather," and Theo. Burns, a rising and parljcularly skilful Sydney boxor, but no relation to "Tommy" of that ilk. Apropos of this affair, the members of the local executive sustained n shock on Saturday last, tho disturbing factor coming in the shape of a cablegram from Mr. J. Barr, tho association's Australian renre'enfntivo, which stated baldly, "Burns failed." Tt apireared as though negotiations had boon broken off at tho eleventh hour, and that tho schemes of ninn had once moro "gang afrinv." Then the message was repeated—"Burns sailed"—and nil was peace again. That the second mos=agfl was the correct one is proved by (he fact that Burns is now in our midst, having arrived by the Sydney bnat on Wednesday. The'change of venue lo thn Opera Hon?e has been occasioned by the. occupation

of the usual arena, tlio Town Hall, by tho Tiny Town Company,, on the dato arranged, which happens to bo tho only ono that suits Hegarty this month, as ho has another engagement inTimarn Inter in September. The October fixture will bo between our welter champion, "Denny" Murphy and "Lyn" TruscoU, and Australian boxer of much repulo a litfclo whilo back.

01' recent; years Truscott, a Iwxor with tho wnndor lust, has been on tour travelling and fighting in China and tho East generally, and in tho course of his wanderings ho turned up recently in town, presented his credentials, and asked for a match. By a fortuitous combination of circumstances, the association wcro then looking for an opponent for Murphy to replace tho lately deposed "Billy" Ilnnnnn, and so the match was arranged for October, Trus-cott asking a month or so in which to prepare himself for tho fray.