IN THE RING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1634, 28 December 1912, Page 12

IN THE RING.

[Bt "Meectot."}

SYDNEY SIDE & LONDON. Ercolcde Balzac, Jean Poesy, apd Others. The Frenchman with the historio name —Ercole de Balzac—in his return match with Roy Midwood repeated his wild performance of a month or two back, the shock of which produced a storm in these parts, and was disqualified in tho sixth round.

Pull particulars to hand of the KeysPoesy affray show that it was another splendid exhibition of the art, and though the Frenchman got the decision opinions are sufficiently' diverse -to indicate that a draw or a win for Keys would have been a better summing up. "Old Hock," though giving a splendid exhibition, could not nave been altogether at his best, for to are told that some of his attempts were inexcusably _ badly judged, and that he often poked his lefts homo instead of punching them in. But, on tho whole, his skill was sufficient to give him the lead on points. The "Referee" is emphatic that he should have won, but there is little use, at this distance from the fight, in pursuing the matter further. A kinematograph picture of th© fight was taken, and probably we shall .have an opportunity of forming our own'■ opinions within the next few months.

Fought at a Fast Clip. Sydney papers "to hand contain, a few more particulars of the Welsh-Mehegan contest. One account has it that a draw would have been a better decision, but the following cablegram does not look as if the Victorian was entitled to the "honours easy" decision:— London, December 17. Extraordinary pace, maintained throughout the greater part of the contest, combined with Tars. judgment, won "Fredy" Welsh the decision; ■ ~, . The first half of the battle was fought at a. remarkable clip, tho Englishman' being responsible for the gait," which appeared to nonplus the visitor. .: It was felt by ringsiders that such ■ speed could not be kept up, and, surely enough, Welsh slowed down considerably in the 11th, 12th, and : 13th rounds. .'' Thereupon Mehcgon assumed tae aggressive, and tried again t and again to work his rival into position.' for a knock-out, but Welsh was too wily, and shifted out of the danger zone whenever it was created. Getting going again m the 14th round, the Englishman once more showed prominently in attack and defence, and.it was considered that no out-manoeuvred his man both at close quarters and in the long-range hght-

''Throughout Welsh had the better of matters, though his adversary always oarricd a dangerous punch, the blows he received not serving to weaken him to any appreciable extent. _ . In the 19th round the Australian made a determined effort to score a knock-out, but it was rendered futile by the English champion's smartness.

"How Little tha Frenoh Boaters Really

Know." ' "Tim" Land, who gained soma measure of fame during tho Amerloan invnsion ot Australia a year or two ago a gallant stand againct Cyclone Thompson, but who has since been somewhat of a disappointment, came back' into ni6 own the other day by defeating Frenchman Jean Audony.' . ■ • , , There was not. much in the affair, but the referee and one of the judges thought that Land had done best. f _ The following comment by the i<eferee" is 6evere, but from results would seom to be true. Says "The Amateur :—. Tho number of times "Tim" succe«d- . Ed in connecting with ftis right demonstratcd how . little tho _ French boxers really know of the science of upholstered fist-fighting. An ordinarily good boxer should have stopped many of the attempts, and at the same time made a good deal through offered. Old Age and Optimism, Philadelphia Jack .O'Brien writes to the "Referee" announcing his intention of coming to Australia next year, and winds up an Interesting' letter by asking for a battle with Sam Truly tho world's greatest optimist is the pug. who has reached the superannuation age.

"Matt" Wells and Welsh. Extraordinary interest was evinced in the contest between "Matt" Wells and "Freddy" Welsh; and the National. Sporting Oiu'b was taxed to its utmost to accommodate the crowd who assembled to witness England's two best light-weights in action, and a memorable contest it appears to have been—clean, fast, and' clever from start to finish, with Wells if anything showing more finished skill, but AVclsh having tho more telling punch. Wells must have been a vastly different man on this occasion as compared with his battle with Mehegan, and it is just possible that he may, in the near future, again display' the form that, euabled him to wrest the English championship from Welsh a couple of years ago.