BOXING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 11

BOXING

FAMOUS NEGRO FIGHTERS.

WHEN JOHNSON SIDESTEPPED

LANGFORD

Whan in 19CS If. D. Mclntosh made world history in boxing bv giving a purse of £G,OOO for a boxing contest, it was not surprising that some of the stars of other Inmk .should he attracted to Australia (writes Morv. Williams, in the Melbourne “Sporting Globe. ’) Among the invaders was ore ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all - time. This wa s Sam Langford, known as the “Boston Tar Kabv.”

While in Australia. Sam made many good friends, because of Ids outstanding ability as a fighter, and his gdnial personality. He tried hard to got Jack Johr.oon to fight him, but could never manage it. It is claimed that Johnson saul lie would never get into the ring again with Langford, after their first and only fight at Chelsea, Massachusetts, where Johnson won on points. What- a performance that was r-an he gauged when we consider that Sam was only 20, and really a beginner when compared with Johnson, who was the logical challenger for the title at the time, and had the advantage of 3-1 stone in weight and was Gin taller. Johnson toured America in vaudeville after his fight with Jim Jeffries. Langford by this time, had not only beaten hut had knocked out almost every heavyweight of importance. So he isot off on the champion’s track, and adopted the very methods used by Johnson to challenge Tommy Burns. He would issue a challenge through a newspaper where Jack was showing, or stand up in a box seat during the champion'd exhibition, and challenge him before the audience. Still Johnson would not- meet him. Langford, on starring as a featherweight. showed great promise, though only 10. At IS he was a fullgrown lightweight, and staggered the world by defeating that wonderful fighter, -Toe Cans. This performance made him stand out an the next champion. but he rapidly outgrew the limit. Then m the .welterweight class, he beat all opposition, and after licking such great fighters as Dixie Kid and J«e Walcott, he again outgrew the weight without a chance of fighting for the title. Before long he was a light-heavy-weight, and it was then he met Johncon. Subsequently he became a- full heavyweight, hut when he realised his great Jife-long ambition, ‘‘to win a world’s championship” would never be realised, he became a different Langford.

He neglected his framing, grew fat, and lost his speed and brilliance. Yet even at char he beat every heavy weight that -could he induced to meet him. including Harry Wills, the giant negro,. Gunboat- Smith. Joe Jeannette, and Kid Norfolk—all really da<? fighters. In 1823 Langford won his last tight at Mexico City from hi? old foe, Jim Flynn. He was almost blind, and fought mostly by sound. hut even the:; lie stopped Flynn. No man ever made a more gallant stand than Langford did in ih)? hi s last fight, when at its finish he had to he led to his corner to end 21 years, of brilliant ring career. To-day Langford is a physical wreck, and almost totally blind. He is dependent upon friends for odd johbs that j’.vt keep him going. He must be rated as one of the nnluckiest- fighters of all. time, for although the fact that he heat- the best in the world at almost every weight, he never had a chance in a title fight.

BOXING I-lISTORY

LADY ACTS AS REFEREE

For tlie first- time in the history of boxing, a lady was introduced as referee recently at- the Ardwiek Stadium, Manchester, England. When she entered the ring to referee a- sixrounds bout between Young Gallagher and R. Calligan, Miss Cassie Watson, of Blackpool, received 1 a welcome that would make even such referees as famous ns Eugene Corri jealous, and when she had perforce to count out P. Calligan in the fifth round tlie cheers resounded as if England had! won the heavy-weight championship. In her next- bout, an eight-rounds contest between AY. Palmer and Mick Kirk, which resulted in' Palmer’s Seconds throwing in the towel in the fifth- round,- she might have stopped the bout earlier, considering the hammering that Palmer took before his seconds wisely intervened. Interviewed afterwards, M,’s s Wnt»o:i, who is a. strikingly pretty brunette of 20 years, confessed that as much as she liked hairdressing, in which profession she is at present engaged 1 , she much prefers boxing, and is greatly looking forward to the time when Mr S. Cowan, of the Ardwiek Stadium, introduces her- to the people of London, Birmingham, and! other towns frpm. which he has already had offers for her services.