BOXING

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1910, Page 7

BOXING

THE JEFFRIES-JOHNSON MELEE EXTRAORDINARY REPORT AUCKLAND, July 18 Tihe following specials cable . dispatch is printed in one of the Australian papers received,- iix the Maheno's mails:— . "A. Los Angelos ..message reports that Jeffries may seek another match with Johnson. The latter to-day re-

plied that, if Jeffries were sincere, and proper inducements were offered, he would gladly meet the ex-cham-pion again. That Jeffries's pitiable showing against Johnson was due to ■some drug administered in a mysterious manner several hours before the battle is the opinion of Dr McClanahan. Spectators of the figiht. who . returned fro.m • Reno yesterday have also freely expressed the opinion that Jeffries was drugged before .. he entered the ring., ! • "Although nothing definite has yet ■been arranged, it is thought possible in some circles that Warren Barbour, ' the amateur heavy-weight champion of the United States, may decide to make an effort to wrest the championship from Jack Johnson. Sporting critics -hold the opinion that either Banbour or Al Kaufmann is the 'hope of the syfiitl^ \ •■ I .I j. FUN AT SUVA. There was some fun " at Suva during the last call of the Marama. Among the passengers for America were "Tommy" Burns and "Bill" Lang, the heavy-weight boxers, and to give the crowd a treat an enteritainment was arranged; the programme of which included amusang boxing contests between the two whites- and a couple of "brawny Fijians. In describing the event, W. F. ('-'Amateur" of the Referee), who was also a passenger en route to Reno, said:— " 'Tommy* toyed with his opponent (a stalwart fellow) throughout the first round, never attempting to land a punch, or allowing- the black to get one home. In the second Burns jabbed a light left home pretty often, and occasionally connected with a heavier blow, using the rigiht, and the expression on the ' native's face then was one of great dread. Soon a couple of rights in .quick succession jolted Suva .'Jack' Johnson's ribs, with the result that he beat a- hasty retreat, tumbling over chairs and scenery in a wild endeavour to place as much of his island as he possibly, could between himself and the 'little big man' (as Chief Kardavalau had described 'Tommy'), while the onlooking crowd swayed and swung convulsed with ■laughter. Mr Mclntosh pleaded with Fiji's champion to come back, and 'Tommy' Burns extended the hand of friendship, and pledged his word that no more blows would be struck ; but all without avail — the native bolted out into the night (probably away into the wilds), to be seen no more — by the visitors, at least. "Bill" Lang held his man longer, because he allowed him to score now and again, but wfeen Bill cut loose the other fellow staggered through the drop-seene — stowed carefully near the wall, at the back — and flopped a limp, scared heap on the floor. "Bill" lifted the native up by tne waist and tried to straighten him out, but he hung like a dead snake, and had to be stowed away on a chair' in- the corner. A third Suva lamb was served up for the slaughter, and given over to the tender care of "Ko Bilo Lagi, ka gaag taudua c liv mai Ositerelia" (as Australia's hope was advertised by handbill during several days prior to the sho\v)J and he proved the pluckiest of the lot, though "Bill" let him off a good deal. The bout, however, ended as; the other two had done, and once more did all spectators see, in what happened, a great deal that amused them, fot 'the whole set-to was freely punctuated with bursts, of laughter, and the cracking of benches hereinbefore mentioned "Tom* my". Burns and "Bill" Lang wound r.p with a fast, vigorous go of four rounds' duration that the house plain ly appreciated very much, and which would have been liberally applauded by a crowd that knew considerably mo-re about the game than the majority of Suva's residents do. Lang's display proved a decided improvement on his showing in Brisbane, and causes one to think he will do better in America than he. believed possible' when we left Sydney