RING NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 14

RING NOTES.

(By "Cross Counter.") The mighty W. W. Naughton has been md gone, and has left behind him some lews notes— some old, some fresh, but all .nteresting. The exigencies of space in an jvening paper prevented ths following adlitional items from getting into the interview published in The Post on Tuesday evening last;— It is interesting to hear (from Mr. Naughton) that America has to thank the Australian invasion of years ago for her present position of dominance. Men like 'Jem" Hall, Geo. Dawson, Peter Jackson, Tom Meadows, "Billy" Maber, and 'Steve" O'Donnell brought over the upright, straight left style of fighting—insroduced it to the States. Then came the reaction, the search by the stricken Yankees for counter-attack. In the end, and is a result, came the fierce, hard-hitting infighting American champions. Questioned regarding the position, he would assign to thai, great fighter, "Bob" Fitzsimmons, in the list of Marquis of Jueensberry heroes, the American said tha ifter he came to the States the ex-Timaru blacksmith appeared to' change his style, md become more of the natural pugilist. 'If 'Fitz' had come to the States ten years aarlier than he did," added Mr. Naugh;on, "he would probably have proved the greatest heavy-weight the world has yet snown. The 'old man' could hit terribly lard from a short distance." SOME PERSONAL NOTES. Wolgast, the present lightweight champion, is a natural fighter, durable and tricky, with a lovely little right upper-cut, tt was mainly this weapon that took the phampionship from that battered warrior, 'Battling" Nelson. Abe Attell, one of tha "little" men, is [says the visitor) to America what the marvellous Griffo was to Australia. The wonderful little Attell is a great favourite, md trains for a battle just enough to see bun through. He lives well, and takes no peat or particular care of himself, but he is a marvel of speed, shiftiness, and science. He can hit hard enough at times, md altogether stands out as an exceptionally fine, little fighter. Reference was made by Mr. Naughton :o > the difficulty some "heavy" Tightweights have in making the American limit, 1331b. Wolgast can do it easily, but men like "Packy" M'Parland, who lave to work strenuously— work as far as weakening _ themselves — leave too often iheir fight in the gymnasium. Surprise was expressed by the critic at Dave Smith's first victory over Papke, * aut none at the latter's win in the return. When "Cyclone" Thompson beat Papke, American "fans" laughed consumedly. Mr. Naughton has a shrewd idea as to what caused the merriment. \ Mr Naughton was greatly tickled at me idea that Lester, Burns's protege, who ights Lang in Sydney soon, came to Aus;ralia under his auspices. "Just tell your people from me that 1 didn't chaperone Mr. Lester" — added the visitor. He comiiended the New Zealand Boxing Coun:il s care in having the competitors medically examined before a fight. In America (as here) on outcry is raised when a pugilist unfortunately dies from the result of injuries sustained in the ring, and :hen, said Mr. Naughton, there is a feverish and strict examination of the men for lbout three months. After that— well, it ioesn't matter co much. The council's .ibohtioh of the alleged kidney punchreally hitting, with the "heel"— too, was commended. In America it is known as the anvil" punch. Mr. Naughton anticipates considerable trouble over the definition of what is and what is not a "kidney" punch when the question of dis-' qualification is a probability. There is a lot of talk throughout America of the fight put up by Carl Morris, one of the score or more of "hopes of the white race," who won 'his fight with MiKe Schreck this week (says a Sydney paper). Morrig won £1300 by the fight, and the scene at the ringside was! an extraordinary one. Drink-filled cowboys and railway navvies came along,.' bringing with them the big bell from the locomotive that Morris used to drive,'. "They would have brought the engine if they could have carried it," says ohe paper Anyhow, they rigged the bell up beside the press-box, and made an incessant racket all through the fight. Schreck's hardest job was to stagger around the ring ■waiting for his quietus, for Morris won all the way, and fought a strong battle. The English critics have a wonderful opimon of Sam Langford, whom they regard as the next holder of the world's heavyweight championship. "A mere superficial inspection of La;ng and Langford, says one authority, "might lead one to think that Lang, standing six inches taller, and evidently weighing two stone heavier, had all the physical advantages. But a closer observation reveals the enormous width of Langford's chest, his thick, capable thighs, the welded strength of his iron jaws, and the enormous length of his well-rounded but supple arms. He moves with the silent stealth of a panther, and one is not long in being convinced that he is the perfect blend of strength and speed. Add to these qualities the mental attributes of courage, audacity, cunning, enterprise, opportunism, and all the rest of it, and can you wonder that Langford has been described as the ideal fighting machine, or that Jack Johnson is rather shy of meeting him?" "Battling" Nelson has been roasting the lightweight champion, Ad Wolgast, badly- "He is the luckiest title-holder the light-weight class has ever developed,"-

1 said the ex-champion. "He i B a secondrater, and Moran can 6top him as quickly as he stopped me. 1 didn't want to fight Wolgast last February, because I was not in first-class trim, but I was literally forced into the match. Tho promoter agreed io all of my demands, and I just had to fi^ht or quit. Just think of it. Forty rcunas! Wolgast didn't knock me down once, but jutl stalled and jabbed until tho retereo thought I was tired. Why, it was a joke to win tho title that way, and its a shame that euch a fourflusher holds it to-day. Moran is the hardest hitter I over met, also a much greater pugilist than Wolgast, and though he is an Englishman he is entitled to fair play. He has challenged Wolgast fairly and squarely. Wolgast is afraid of him, and is just using the alleged brokqn arm as an excuse to avoid a battle. Moran will haye > the support of everybody if he claimb this fellow's title according to the rules, for Wolgast is no longer regarded as a real champion. He's a bluffer and an imitation fighter.'