KING NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 14

KING NOTES.

MEHEGAN A CHAMPION. HIS BATTLE "WITH CLABBY. Crowding his map at every possible opportunity, fighting ac if opposed to a reasonable proposition, and using a smother that was almost impenetrable, Hughie Mehegan, lightweight champion of the continent, saw through 20 rounds with Jimmy Clabby, at the Stadium on Wednesday night, and only lost a points decision to an • experienced boxer, to whom he conceded weight, height, and reach (says the SunJ. On even terms the Australian must have prevailed, but the odds again&t him were too great for even a plucky and determined lighter of the stamp of Meheganl As it was he did remarkably well. His was a meritorious performance, and it should stand well in connection, with his trip to America, At the outset those "in the know" laid long odds on Clabby. There was plenty 'of money about at that price, but takers were hard to discover. The layers of the odds 'figured, it out this way. Clabby was bound down to make lOst 81b, and reckoning that he ccuid come in eaty at that poundage, they considered that Mehegan would be a' soft mark for him. But, although Clabby entered the ring strong, he only saved his £150 forieit by removing his boots, and weighing with only his singlet on. Mehegan was exactly a stone lighter. But afterwards it was not the weight question that troubled the men who" laid the ridiculous odds 'on the American.' Having seen Clabby in action, the Australian arranged a plan of campaign that he stood to all night, and he used tactics that enabled > him to see the distance out. Realising that it was only reasonable to expect that Clabby could outbox him, the light-weight refused to have anything' to do with longrange lighting. Covering himself up until it was only with difficulty that his eyes could be seen, aod crouching until his body was almost at right angles to has legs, he went right in close and contented himself with half-arm work. Clabby smiled at the impudence of such a small man setting out to force the fighting. Standing straight up be shot his left out time after time.. But Mehegan had his head lowered, and took the punches on the top of his skull. Then the American hooked the left, and shot hie Tight-over. He stood back with a smile on his face to watch the effect. Mehegan was still untouched. His smother was his salvation. « CLABBY PERPLEXED. Later on Clabby looked perplexed. The smother had him beat. Hi« face made the admission. Standing back h« essayed to chop it down. But Mehegan's arms remained in position, and the American looked still mare perplexed. He tried again and failed, '■fkftt ifc was Mehegan's turn to smile, and his eyes twinkled as Clabby danced around, sprang forward in panther-like fashion, and varied his methods to get over tho smother. But the lightweight's arms remained in position. Clabby, looking worried, signalled the opening of the fifteenth round. Thar* had been a deal of betting that the Australian could not last that distance, and the start of the session saw Mehogan loudly cheered. He smiled. Clabby scowled. Jumping from his seat the American attacked savagely. Mehegan made him miss badly, and then smiled. The American scowled. Ho jumped in wildly, only to beat the air with hla hands. Clabby was anxious, and apart from that causing* him to go off his feet, it enabled Mehegan to put in a deal of good work. Clabby regained hie calmne6B afterwards, and although tired he was stronger than Mehegan, and led to' the end. CLEAN BOXING. Tho State Athletic Commission (New York) is determined that clean boxing contests shall be the rule. It will not tolerate matches in which either man shows signs of stalling. When this does happen the admission money will be returned to the spectators (says, a message to the Sydney Sun). Already the commission holds the receipts from fortyeight contests pending enquiry and a decision regarding them. Those who paid to witness the match between Leach Cross and "One-Round" Hogan, which ended after one round, have been advised to hold the stubs of their tickets. It is believed that the commission will order tho money to be returned over that and all similar contests. It is expected that this will be made a rule to apply to. all contests which aro proved to havo been "faked" or otherwise unsatisfactory. Another rule which it is believed the commission will make i& one requiring prices to be fixed, so that Ihe'cosfc of admission shall not vary. KILBANE AND WOLOAST. "Tommy" Kilbane'.s manager ha* igeeived a telegram asking him if he will consider an offer for a match.,, with Ad.

Wolgast on 4th July. He has wired an acceptance, with the proviso that Wolgast must not expect to get all the gatemoney. Ktfbane and his manager have left for New York. • WELLS AND M'FARLAND. Packey M'Farland has announced his acceptance of an offer from the National Sporting Club of New York to meet Matt Wells in a ten-round contest. Matt Wells is ( the English light-weight cham pion. The Englibh weight in this class is 1351b, and Wells has been able to get down to that. In America the weight is 1331b, and while M'Farland can (i*«t. down to that weight easily enough there is some doubt of Wells reaching it. This doubt- about Wells coming down to the American light-weight limit, and the belief that M'Farland may insist upon the long end of the purso, are the only obstacles in the way of the match. The purse is one of £5200. "TERRIERS" FOR " DAVE " SMITH The "Australian Terriers' Society/ a body whose object is not to breed dogs but good fellowship, tendered a farewell dinner to Dave Smith, champion boxer, at Paris House recently. The Terriers have a big membership of sportiug and theatrical men and the general public, and their presence at any contest m which Dave Smith figures is always known by their enthusiastic "bowwows," which form their peculiar form of applause.^ Smith -was presented with a fine travelling bag on behalf of the society. CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS. "Hughie" Mehegan has won no les& than seventeen contests, for the lightweight championship of Australia, according to a record of champions published in the Sidney Referee. The ."crack", lightweight also held the welterweight honours since 1910, until a few days a-go when he was beaten on points by Clabby,. the clever American. "Hock" Keys" has a record, of twelve wins in th« lightweight championship section, "Bob" Turner . ten, "Jack" M'Gowaoi nine. In the featherweight section "Joo" Russell has ten "victories to his credit, and in the bantam "Ted" Green ha« iix. SECRET OF AMERICANS' SUCCESS. I have already more than once pointed ont that the- sole secret of th» varioub successes which have of late ycj,rs moro i or lees established the American claim' to the premier position in the boxing world from a .championship point of .view ".is tho almost inexplicable way in which' so' many of our own men have chosen to abandon the old EngUfch style 'of boxing for a, wild method which has nothing to recommend it from a scientific 'method, remarks an expert hi an English exchange. American boxers have beaten our representatives because they have adopted and practised , the old original^ English style and because they have also, as & rule, been invariably careful to enter the ring thoroughly fit and trained for any bout in which they had to engage. Our own men, with a few notable exceptions, have for some grotesque reasons (I' will not say an absoldto inability , to' think ' clearly) ascribed their defeats to certain peculiarities or habits of their conquerors. They have taken a. survey of successful American boxers, and have . imitated their faults instead of their virtues. It eeemfl inconceivable, but it \is nevertheless a fact. Let any hard-hitting, butting, or boring American visit us, ignorant even of the very rudiments of the art, but who by virtue of his hitting powers, a few lucky punches, or other causes, happens to win ■ a few victories, then Avill you see & whole regiment of our men casting all their previous methods to the winds, and going into their contests swinging from all sortt of positions, without the slightest attempt at defence other than the crude cover-up, which was the only one with which their exemplar was acquainted. ' FLYNN AND PALZER. "I wouldn't let Flynn fight Palzer (the promising "white hope") under any circumstances," declares "an "American. "Palzer is as sure to k.o. Flyhn if he ever gets him in' the ring as that the sun rises in the east. ' Flynn is made to. order for Palzer. His style of fighting ' makes him an . easy mark for O'Rourke's white hope. Another thing I might be pardoned 'for .tolling M'Curley (Flynu's manage*) and Mr. Flynn, and that is that both can get action for all the money they can bring to New York if they think Flynn can win. In making this statement I'm not detracting fniin Flynn's fighting ability, either. I believe he's the best . white heavyweight in' the world barring Palzer, but Palzer will take his measure if he ever get*, him inside the roped arena, and do it so handily and swiftly that Flynn will not have time to think twice. Not only that, but Palzer will take Johnson's measure too in another year if Johnson is still on the map as the heavy-weight champion of the world. That's just hpw good Palzer is, in my opinion."